Pittsburgh Pirates To Sign Brian Tallet

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to sign pitcher Brian Tallet, according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. Goldstein doesn't mention whether he'll receive a Major League contract, but it's unlikely given his performance over the past few years.

Tallet, 34, split the 2011 season between the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals. In last year's deal centered around Colby Rasmus and Edwin Jackson, Tallet was a throw-in sent from St. Louis to Toronto in order to finish off the deal. Over 19 appearances last season, he posted a 9.45 ERA in 13 innings.

The veteran has been better in the past, though. From 2006-2008, Tallet posted a 3.38 ERA in 178 innings with Toronto, pitching well enough to warrant an opportunity in the starting rotation in 2009. The results as a starter were mixed, though, with a 5.32 ERA in 160 innings but a slightly better FIP of 4.68. In general, he's just some lefty depth for a team that's not loaded with solid left-handed options.