Pirates optioned LHP Tom Gorzelanny to Triple-A Indianapolis; optioned outfielder Jose Tabata to Double-A Altoona.
Gorzelanny was simply never right last season after complaining of shoulder soreness in April, going 6-9 with a 6.66 ERA in 21 starts one year after seemingly establishing himself as a long-term member of the Pirates' rotation. He'll try to prove himself healthy at Triple-A and will quickly get another shot if his stuff returns, but in the meantime Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens and Virgil Vasquez will fight over the final two rotation spots. Tabata had a strong spring, but at 20 years old still has plenty of rough edges to smooth out before arriving in Pittsburgh.
When you have an ERA of 6.66, things aren't going to go your way. Gorzelanny looked very promising for the Pirates after posting a 3.88 ERA in 201 innings in '07 but hasn't found that success since. Pirates have bad luck when it comes to their pitchers. Seems like they have a lot of one year wonders (looking at you Zack Duke).