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Pirates put Alvarez on trade market

By John Perrotto for The 2 min read

SAN DIEGO — Pedro Alvarez’s days as a third baseman appear over. Perhaps his time with the Pirates is almost up, as well.

Executives from multiple teams said Monday the Pirates are making the left-handed hitting slugger available in trades as they look to bolster their starting rotation.

Alvarez led the National League with 36 home runs in 2013 but that figure was cut in half to 18 this season. His 25 errors led the major leagues last season and his inability to make routine throws across the infield forced the Pirates to switch him from third base to first base in August.

Though Alvarez has expressed a desire to return to third base, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said he will be the first baseman in 2015 after Ike Davis and Gaby Sanchez were designated for assignment last month.

Any team looking to trade for Alvarez would almost certainly play him at first base or perhaps designated hitter if it is in the American League. One top talent evaluator from a National League team said the Pirates would be hard pressed to get a lot back in a trade.

“He’s never been very good at third base and now he’s unplayable there since he’s got the throwing yips,” the evaluator said. “His entire value is wrapped in hitting home runs. He’s a one-dimensional player. He can hit the ball a mile when he connects but that’s it. If he doesn’t hit the ball out of the park then he’s not helping you.”

The Pirates reportedly tried to interest the Miami Marlins in Alvarez in a trade for hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovadi, but those talks went nowhere.

Meanwhile, the Pirates pursuit of Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks ended Monday as the two teams failed to match up on a potential trade. The Pirates also made a play for Oakland Athletics right-hander Jeff Samardzija but those talks went nowhere.

The Pirates did add a relief pitcher by claiming Josh Lindblom off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

Lindblom, 27, pitched in only one major league game last season, giving up two runs in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision. He was 4-3 with a 5.79 ERA in 17 games, including 16 starts, with Class AAA Sacramento.

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