Joe Biemel to sign

[love_that_reefer]

The Pirates will announce the signing of left-handed reliever Joe Beimel on Friday, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

Beimel, who went to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and has ties to the area, as Renck notes, was originally drafted by the Bucs in 1998 and made his big-league debut with them in 2001.

After breaking into the Majors in a swing role, Beimel has evolved into a well-traveled lefty specialist (limiting LHB to .259/.320/.400 in 929 career PA), having spent time with the Dodgers, Nationals and Rockies over the past three seasons.

Beimal, who will turn 34 in April, has a 4.16 career ERA over 562 1/3 innings.

Not a terrible signing by the Pirates. They needed some more bullpen help and could be a trade piece for them come the trade deadline.

[missionhockey21]

As a lefty specialist, he's a great pickup and should definitely have some value at the deadline. Over the past three seasons, Beimel has held left-handed hitters to a sub-.700 OPS.

[realmofotalk]

Forever a legend to those of us from the DodgerBlues message board.

[realmofotalk]

could be a trade piece for them come the trade deadline.

should definitely have some value at the deadline.