Former Pittsburgh Pirates, Where Are They Now?

Over the last 5 years, there have been a lot of professional baseball players going in and out of Pittsburgh. Tonight, I'm writing this post to catch you all up on where these familiar names are now and how they have been performing since being sent packing:

Jack Wilson:

Currently Playing For: Seattle Mariners

2011 Stats: 51 G, .226/.261/.248, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 5 SB, 0.7 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 1159 G, .269/.311/.376, 6 HR, 389 RBI, 36 SB, 13.3 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 143 G, .236/.271/.291, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 7 SB, 2.1 WAR

Wilson has missed a ton of time with injury since leaving Pittsburgh, he even contemplated retiring for awhile. Jack Flash has yet to play even a half season with the Mariners since being traded mid-2009. He played 61 games in 2010 and has 51 under his belt thus far this year. He has also been moved around the infield a little bit. Jack never played anywhere but shortstop with the Pirates, but since the trade he has played 45 games at second base (all this year) and played third base for the first time in his career last night (Wednesday August 3rd).


Freddy Sanchez:

Currently Playing For: San Francisco Giants

2011 Stats: 60 G, .289/.332/.397, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 1.0 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 676 G, .301/.338/.424, 37 HR, 289 RBI, 10 SB, 11.6 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 196 G, .290/.333/.387, 11 HR, 78 RBI, 3 SB, 2.6 WAR

Freddy has been one of the most successful former Pirate I will be mentioning in this post, just because of the World Series he won with the Giants last year (he hit .270/.292/.333 in their playoff run). He has maintained his good batting average since leaving, but he has been declining and has dealt with injury. He played just 111 games in his first season with the Giants and has played only 60 thus far this year.


Adam LaRoche:

Currently Playing For: Washington Nationals

2011 Stats: 43 G, .172/.288/.258, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 0 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 375 G, .265/.340/.469, 58 HR, 213 RBI, 2.4 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 257 G, .261/.332/.407, 41 HR, 158 RBI, 2.1 WAR

LaRoche has bounced around quite a bit since being traded in 2009. Originally, he went to Boston and hit a home run in his first game there, but played in only 6 games before being shipped to backed to Atlanta, where he started his career to finish out the 2009 season there. He played a full season for the Diamondbacks in 2010 and hit 25 bombs, but was released in the offseason and was picked up by the Washington Nationals, who enjoyed 43 games of a .172 batting average before ending his year by placing him on the DL after season-ending surgery. It's been a roller coaster ride for LaRoche since leaving. He hasn't been all that successful, but the Pirates have yet to find a good replacement for him, experimenting with Garrett Jones, Jeff Clement, Lyle Overbay, and now Derrek Lee.


Nate McLouth:

Currently Playing For: Atlanta Braves

2011 Stats: 81 G, .228/.344/.333, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 4 SB, 0.6 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 481 G, .261/.339/.462, 60 HR, 194 RBI, 64 SB, 7.2 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 250 G, .229/.335/.364, 21 HR, 76 RBI, 23 SB, 0.1 WAR

Half the inspiration for this blog name has never given his new team what they were expecting when they acquired him. The Braves sent us Charlie Morton, Gorkys Hernandez, and Jeff Locke for McLouth, and have been awarded with many trips to the DL and an ugly stat line from Nate The Great. He played only 85 games for the Braves in 2010 and hit .190, and you're laughing out loud right now.


Jason Bay:

Currently Playing For: New York Mets

2011 Stats: 82 G, .239/.322/.342, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 9 SB, 0.7 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 719 G, .281/.375/.515, 139 HR, 452 RBI, 50 SB, 12.1 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 377 G, .262/.359/.392, 58 HR, 240 RBI, 35 SB, 7.7 WAR

J-Bay was traded their in 2008 in the deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, and he didn't initially light the world on fire filling in for Manny in front of the green monster. However, in 2009, Bay played 151 games and hit 36 home runs while driving in 119 in the heart of the Red Sox batting order. He finished 7th in the MVP voting that year. After that huge season, the Mets picked him up and were never rewarded (a seemingly common theme with the Mets). Their pitcher-friendly Citi Field hurt Bay substantially and has led him to a .250/.335/.374 line in his career as a Met. He has struggled with injuries as well, playing only 95 games in his first season in New York. This year he's missed some time with injury again, and has looked good at the plate recently, but still has an ugly .239 batting average with just 7 homers, not what the Mets were looking for. His volume of work isn't that great, and if it weren't for that unreal 2009 season, Pirate fans really wouldn't miss him at all.


Jose Bautista:

Currently Playing For: Toronto Blue Jays

2011 Stats: 98 G, .324/.460/.662, 32 HR, 72 RBI, 5 SB, 6.9 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 400 G, .241/.358/.480, 43 HR, 159 RBI, 10 SB, -1.1 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 393 G, .268/.388/.566, 102 HR, 246 RBI, 18 SB, 14.3 WAR

I contemplated not even putting Bautista in this post, but he's impossible to overlook. Bautista is the one guy that has had more success since leaving Pittsburgh, hitting a ridiculous 102 home runs in 393 games with Toronto. He's been a topic of discussion all season long, and the fans are angry with management for letting him go. That said, Bautista was never much of a player with the Pirate and nobody missed him when he was gone. He struggled with Toronto in 2008 after the trade and even into 2009 when he hit .235/.349/.308 in his first full season as a Blue Jay. However, the team stuck with him and has been rewarded big time, as Bautista has developed into the best power hitter in the game. Stupid, isn't it?


Xavier Nady:

Currently Playing For: Arizona Diamondbacks

2011 Stats: 77 G, .255/.292/.372, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 2 SB, 0.1 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 269 G, .301/.353/.482, 36 HR, 152 RBI, 5 SB, 1.9 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 262 G, .260/.307/.365, 22 HR, 110 RBI, 3 SB, 0.1 WAR

The X-man has been another story of struggle since leaving the Pirates. He hasn't been anywhere near his Pittsburgh batting average since the trade and has also lost a substantial amount of power. Injuries have sidelined him quite a bit as well, he basically missed the entire 2009 season (playing in 7 games), and hasn't played more than 119 in any season since the trade. The best part of this is that he was the main piece in the deal that brought Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, and Daniel McCutchen to the burgh. Thanks, Yankees!


Nyjer Morgan:

Currently Playing For: Milwaukee Brewers

2011 Stats: 72 G, .326/.357/.464, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 6 SB, 1.1 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 157 G, .286/.351/.376, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 34 SB, 3.5 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 257 G, .291/.335/.336, 4 HR, 63 RBI, 64 SB, 2.5 WAR

Tony Plush has played very well since being traded to Washington in a deal that brought the Pirates Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge. He's hit for good average and played great defense for the Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers. Nyjmo played a year and a half in DC before going over to Milwaukee this year. He has developed quite a raging personality however, he's been involved in a couple altercations, including this one. Morgan has maintained his humorous side, as we saw recently in this postgame interview. Despite his hot head, he's continued to be a good guy and a successful baseball player. Too bad he plays for the Brewers.


Ian Snell:

Currently Playing For: Dodger's AAA Team

Stats With Pittsburgh: 128 G, 33-46, 4.75 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 4 BB/9, 7.5 K/9, 3.4 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 24 G, 9-13, 5.12 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 5.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, -0.8 WAR

Snell is the most laughable of all the players mentioned here. He completely fell apart in his time with Seattle and tried to catch on with the Cardinals this offseason, but was cut before the season could start and is now pitching for the Dodgers AAA affiliate. He has an 11.05 ERA in 22 innings with them, he has hit rock bottom. Poor guy. Sadly, Snell won't be remembered for long with his career 38-53 record and 4.80 ERA.


Tom Gorzelanny:

Currently Playing for: Washington Nationals

2011 Stats: 16 G, 2-6, 4.57 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.1 K/9, 0.1 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 76 G, 25-26, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, 2.5 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 58 G, 13-17, 4.48 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9, 8.2 K/9, 1.7 WAR

Gorzo had some pretty high expectations when he broke into the league with Pittsburgh after showing early success. However, he couldn't keep his success up for long and was involved in the 2009 fire sale, being traded to Chicago with John Grabow to bring in Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio, and Josh Harrison, a trade that sure hasn't helped this organization very much at all. Gorzelanny has done enough to earn himself a spot in Washington's rotation this year and has had modest success. He hasn't gotten shelled but hasn't been great either. He's won just 2 games with his 4.57 ERA, but the 0.1 WAR pretty much tells all. Gorzelanny has been okay since leaving Pittsburgh, but easily replaceable.


Matt Capps:

Currently Playing For: Minnesota Twins

2011 Stats: 46.2 IP, 15 SV, 4.24 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.7 K/9, 0.3 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 271.2 IP, 67 SV, 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.9 K/9, 3.6 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 120.2 IP, 57 SV, 3.13 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.1 K/9, 2.0 WAR


The big bull rider was non-tendered by the Pirates following the 2009 season, which was a big surprise to Pirate fans. The team brought in Octavio Dotel to serve as the closer and he did a pretty good job in a 105 loss season for the Pirates. The Pirates flipped Dotel to the Dodgers for James McDonald and Andrew Lambo mid-season, which was a fantastic trade for the Pirates. Capps had a great year for the Nationals in 2010 and was traded to the Twins for a big time prospect, Wilson Ramos. He hasn't been very good this year for the Twins. He had the closer job for awhile after Joe Nathan struggled, but has since given it right back after being even worse. Capps was a well respected Pirate, but Joel Hanrahan isn't making anybody miss him too much.


John Grabow:

Currently Playing For: Chicago Cubs

2011 Stats: 45.1 IP, 5.16 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9, 5.6 BB/9, -0.4 WAR

Stats With Pittsburgh: 363.1 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9, 2.0 WAR

Stats Since Departure: 96.0 IP, 5.25 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, -0.9 WAR

Grabow was a reliable reliever for the Pirates for 7 years and was missed for a short while after he was traded in the same deal that Gorzelanny was in. He hasn't helped his new team out much, however, with an ugly 5.25 ERA in his time with the Cubs. Grabow is definitely nearing the end of his career, and will always be remembered as one of the most reliable left handed relievers in recent Pirates history.

Some of other names that didn't quite make the list are Andy LaRoche (.247/.320/.333 in 40 games with Oakland this year), Brandon Moss (hasn't played a major league game since leaving the Pirates), Lastings Milledge (4 at bats with the White Sox this year), Eric Hinske (28 home runs in 252 games since hitting 1 as a Pirate in 54 games), Ronny Paulino (hitting .304/.337/.387 this year with the Mets), Bryan Bullington (a 6.12 ERA in 42.2 innings with Kansas City this year), and Ryan Vogelsong (one of the best stories of 2011 with a 2.23 ERA in 17 starts with the Giants). There aren't a whole lot of positive memories in the past 4 years of Pirates baseball, but The "Mc" Effect is glad to bring you back some of the cherish-able ones.