Scratch Jason Michaels returning

[lefty]

Just signed with Astros, BUT for ONLY $750K!
Is he that valueless, or is the market for 2nd tier FA's that bad?

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/astros_sign_michaels.html

[BadAndy]

The way he's been digressing over the years he's lucky to get that deal.  Most teams would've offered him a minor league contract including the Pirates.  Pearce can produce better than him at half the price as a likely 4th outfielder. 

All in all I wish J Mike the best.   

[MaineBucs]

While the likelihood of him returning to the Pirates appeared to be close to nil, I am glad to hear that he signed with Astros or any other team for that matter.

Michaels appears to be at the end of the line.  He must realize it as well, or he wouldn't have signed for $750,000.  Chump change by baseball standards, but a very very good paycheck for most folks. 

[CentralCABucsFan]

I'm glad he found work, and I appreciate what he did for the Pirates in spurts last season, but I'm also happy that he won't be a part of the 2009 Pirates.  The only veteran I would like to see return is Doug M. and even that is borderline.  I'd like to see a bench of Vasquez, Doug M., Morgan, the backup catcher and a righty with power such as Wigginton, Rivera, or Gomes.

[WTM]

I agree.  I have nothing against Michaels personally, but if you look at his numbers over the last several years it's clear he's about finished.  This market is shaping up as a buyer's market except for the premium players, so NH should be able to put together a much better bench.  I wouldn't mind taking a flyer on somebody with power, like Gomes for instance.

[MaineBucs]

I forgot to add that it also is refreshing to see NH quickly walking away from Michaels even though he was dirt cheap and the Bucs have a need for more bench players.    In short, NH does not appear to have the same 'love jones' for some bench players like past GM's did for players like Nunez and Benjamin. 

I alson note that NH assembled last year's bench from scratch and quite a few gave him kudos for his bench, particularly the Pirate announcers.  I thought he came up short in that end, with the exception of Mienty (whose signing I originally busted).  Hopefully NH has learned that you do need at least one reserve infielder who can capably fill in at shortstop, and that some of the others need to have some pop.  Last year's bench coming out of spriing training --- Rivas, Gomez, Mienty, Paulino and Morgan, collectively, didn't even make it ten home runs by the end of the season.   And to top it off, 2 of them had almost no value in the field.       

[UtahPirate]

DK referenced this picture in his blog when mentioning Michaels new contract:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08195/896826-63.stm

I just wanted to note that the Pirate team that took the field first half of last year was sure fun to watch. Those guys could generate some offense. Too bad nobody could pitch to back it up. After trade the play was so dismal that you forget how fun things were for awhile--we have had some brutal Augusts and Septembers.

Wishing Michaels the best. DK's blog also noted that Mienky had teams that were interested in him, but no offers yet. I would love to have him back and perhaps our patience will result in his return at a contract price that makes sense for us.....

[lefty]

Some other opinions

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/touchingbase/2008/12/analysis-michaels-an-astro-nom.html

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6165594.html