Pittsburgh Pirates cut ties with Jeff Karstens – MLB Update
After a long set of speculations, the Pittsburgh Pirates have taken a bold decision of cutting ties with starting pitcher Jeff Karstens.
Many earlier also expected that the Pirates will go for tendering Karstens’ current contract as they offered assignment while Russell Martin will be coming to fill his vacant spot.
Pirates also traded Chris Resop and signed Charlie Morton to a one-year deal as a part of a greater initiative to remain on top against their Division rivals.
"A tough decision for us as an organization, We're grateful for what Jeff has done on and off the field, Our hope is that the door is still ajar and he would entertain an opportunity to return to the Pirates, We'd still like to have him back,” general manager Neal Huntington said.
The Pirates decided before the deadline set by Major League Baseball authorities on non-tender contracts while their five remaining arbitration players have also been tendered.
On the other hand, Karstens, now a free agent, is free to look at other options for his future. Playing in the last Major League Baseball season, he earned $3.1 million.
However, now his status as a free agent has opened many opportunities for him regarding a potential future with another Major League team.
Playing for Pittsburgh in the last season, his ERA remained consistent at 3.97 along with 5-4 win-loss, 66 strike-outs and 1.15 WHIP.
Overall his career ERA of 4.44 along with 26-40 win-loss, 330 strike-outs and 1.33 WHIP also makes him a good role player in the league.
Karstens started his career in 2006 with the New York Yankees and later in 2008 joined the Pittsburgh Pirates where he was playing with some consistency.
Experts have different opinions on this recent development. Some say it has opened a whole set of new options for Karstens while some say it will give the Pirates slightly more depth in their upcoming roster which will be potentially performing in the next season.
Pirates' top executives, who have appreciated this move, still holding their official comments but in the coming days, many executives will be openly talking about this bold step.
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