HBT Weekend Wrapup

Really, it was all trades this weekend, and we had you covered like a jimmy hat on that stuff. If you’re simply looking to see who went where, check out the HBT Trade Deadline Tracker, which has all the specifics of all of the deals. If you’re looking for something a touch more in depth, try this:

The Phillies probably overpaid for Hunter Pence,
The Tigers called up a top prospect.
Wang did not rise to the occasion.
All Derek Holland does is throw shutouts. Or it may be that we simply notice them.
Why in the hell did the Cubs deem Carlos Pena untouchable?
A Rich Harden-to-Boston deal fell through. You’ll never guess why.
Andy Van Slyke rips Colby Rasmus.
Why didn’t the Yankees get Ubaldo Jimenez?
Ed Wade got hosed in the Michael Bourn deal. Really, they got hosed.
The Pirates aren’t pleased at how long it’s taking Derrick Lee to make it to Pittsburgh.
Manny Banuelos levels-up.
When Miguel Tejadas attack.
The new-look Astros are an ugly, ugly bunch.
It’s becoming clear why the Yankees didn’t make a deal for Wandy Rodriguez.

Now that the trade deadline is over we can all breathe again. You heard me. Breathe.

Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports that the Pirates have decided to convert outfielder JB Shuck into a two-way player. Recent comments relayed from the club’s director of player development, Larry Broadway, indicated that the outfielder would be coached in developing his pitching skills while working at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Per Broadway, the change would be enacted to help the veteran outfielder develop some much-needed versatility in the majors, where he’s only ever been limited to outfield and DH responsibilities. Well, except for the two games in which he pitched an inning of relief: once, against the Nationals in a blowout 11-4 loss in 2016, then in a similarly painful loss to the Diamondbacks this past April. During the latter outing, he finished the game with a 13-pitch ninth inning after allowing just one hit and one walk.

Add to that one minor-league outing in 2012, and the 31-year-old Shuck has pitched just three times over the course of his 12-season career in pro ball. While he has three years of experience on the mound from his college days, he’ll need quite a bit of preparation to handle the kind of workload expected from a two-way outfielder/reliever: 20+ innings pitched over a season and 20+ games played as a designated hitter or position player.

Still, his lack of experience doesn’t seem to faze Broadway, at least not this early in the process. There’s no word yet on how soon Shuck would be expected to debut his new skillset on a major-league level.