MVN: Most Valuable Network

Not "new" news, but the Pittsburgh Pirates have granted free agency to relief pitcher Franquelis Osoria. 

Osoria began the 2008 season in the Pirates' bullpen.  Over the first three months of the season, he made 36 appearances, all in relief, stacking up a 2-2 record and a 6.02 ERA.  He allowed 75 hits in 52.1 innings of work, with 11 walks and 27 strikeouts.  Of those strikeouts, 14 came in the month of May.  The right-hander developed some bursitis in his right ankle and went on the disabled list at the end of June.  He spent 5 days in Indianapolis on a rehab stint, pitching a total of 3 scoreless innings and striking out 3 batters, then returned to the Pirates on July 7th.  Back with the Pirates, Osoria struggled again.  In 12 innings over 7 appearances, he allowed 12 hits and 6 earned runs in 8.1 innings (6.48 ERA), with 1 walk and only 4 strikeouts.  He was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Indianapolis on August 12th, where he finished up the season.  He made 8 more appearances, giving up 11 hits and 5 earned runs in 9.2 innings of work (4.89 ERA), with 2 walks and 11 strikeouts. 

Osoria did not live up to the hopes the Pirates had for him.  A reliever who gives up 1.45 hits for every inning he pitches, and one home run in every 6 innings, is not going to cut it at the major league level, and especially with the pitchers who came to the organization in July, the Pirates have many other options.  At age 27, Osoria still has a chance to turn it around, if he can convince another team to take a chance on him.