Bucs Sign Nick Franklin

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 5:17 pm

The Pirates have signed Nick Franklin to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. This seems like another minor league depth option.

Buccos1313 · Post by **Buccos1313** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 6:11 pm

I just read that the Brewers tried him at catcher last year in the minors. I wonder if the Pirates have that in mind.... minor league catching depth???

NJBucsFan · Post by **NJBucsFan** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 6:45 pm

Sean Rod without the power. Nice.

Ecbucs · Post by **Ecbucs** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 7:11 pm

1F283E3E322E6C6E6C6E5D0 wrote: I just read that the Brewers tried him at catcher last year in the minors. I wonder if the Pirates have that in mind.... minor league catching depth???

could be, but according to Baseball Cube he only caught 3 games in minors last year. I would guess he is emergency catcher material only (and probably for Indy).

SCBucco · Post by **SCBucco** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 9:36 pm

Why can't we get nice things instead of failed prospects and reclamation projects?

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:42 pm

It is a little surprising that Franklin has not played in any of the early spring training games. I can understand when one of the regular players have not played yet such as Dickerson, but a player who has a long shot as a bench player and has not yet played, it appears his chances of making the team are slim to none.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:55 pm

6C60613A333A323F38273D0A0 wrote: It is a little surprising that Franklin has not played in any of the early spring training games. I can understand when one of the regular players have not played yet such as Dickerson, but a player who has a long shot as a bench player and has not yet played, it appears his chances of making the team are slim to none.
Franklin is a career .214 hitter. Mario Mendoza was a career .215 hitter. I think Franklin is penciled in as the new Max Moroff to be AAA insurance if injuries temporarily require a new utility player.