Pirates Recall Neil Walker, Outright Jose Tabata to AAA
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled second baseman Neil Walker from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list. In a corresponding move, the team has outrighted outfielder Jose Tabata to AAA Indianapolis.
What this means for Tabata is that he is off the 40-man roster, but has cleared waivers and will be sent to the AAA Indianapolis Indians.
Tabata signed a 6-year $15 million deal with the Pirates in 2011 that is paying him $3 million this year, with 2 years left at $4 million in 2015 and $4.5 million in 2016.
The Pirates have team options on Tabata for 2017, 2018 and 2019, but can opt out of those for $250,000, making Tabata eligible for free agency in 2017.
Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined Starkey and Mueller during his regular weekly time at 5pm and talked about the move saying he was a bit surprised but that the Pirates deserve credit for making this a baseball move, not a financial move since getting rid of Travis Snider would have been a cheaper option.
"We as broadcasters, fans members of the media, it's an automatic reflex to think that if the Pirates are going to make any kind of a move, it is going to be payroll or financially based first and foremost," Brown said. "And so in the back of my mind I felt like, ok, lets take a look at Tabata and Snider. Snider is making less, so he probably will be gone, but to the Pirates credit again, they make a baseball decision not based on finances. They are basically eating the rest of this contract, now of course that doesn't mean we won't see Tabata again down the road."
Click the audio link below to hear the rest of Brown's take on the Pirates outrighting Tabata to AAA.
Pirates Broadcaster Greg Brown
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