This is nice to see.

Source: #Pirates, RHP Jeff Karstens agree to terms on one-year contract, pending physical

— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) January 14, 2013

In an off season that has pretty much been the definition of “meh,” this is a move that makes some sense. Jeff Karstens, when healthy has been a very solid pitcher of the previous seasons and the Pirates are in need of some starting pitching.

In 19 games (15 starts) last season, Karstens posted a 3.97 ERA and 66:15 K:BB ratio over 90 2/3 innings. After starting the season on the disabled list due to right shoulder inflammation, his season was cut short thanks to a strained hip flexor muscle.

The deal is pending a physical and Karstens looks to make $2.5 to $3 million once the details are announced.

Cleveland has traded RHP Jeanmar Gomez to Pittsburgh for minor league OF Quincy Latimore

— keithlaw (@keithlaw) January 9, 2013

ESPN’s Keith Law reported today that the Pirates have acquired “staring pitcher” Jeanmar Gomez from Cleveland for ” OF prospect” Quincy Latimore. I put those positions in quotes because both players barely qualify as such.

Gomez, 24, posted a 5.96 ERA over 90 2/3 innings last season. He’s a “sixth starter” type player who also is serviceable in a middle relief or mop up role. He has pitched in parts of three seasons with the Indians.

Latimore, 23, was the Pirates’ fourth round pick in 2007 and has shown some pop in his time in the minors, hitting 15+ homers in each of the past three seasons. However, his highest OPS came in 2010 in High-A ball at .767. At this point, Latimore looks like an organizational guy with a very low chance of cracking a Major League roster.

Gomez will be placed on the Pirates’ 40-man roster, but I will be pretty surprised if he is still on it by Opening Day. He is out of options, so would have to clear waivers if he doesn’t make the 25-man roster.

Today, it was announced that the Pirates and Red Sox had, indeed finalized a deal that sends RHP Joel Hanrahan and 2B Brock Holt to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHP Mark Melancon, OF/1B Jerry Sands, 2B Ivan De Jesus, and RHP Stolmy Pimentel.

Hanrahan, 31, was acquired by Pittsburgh in 2009 from the Washington Nationals and served as the team’s closer the past two seasons. The two-time All-Star converted 76 of 84 save opportunities during that span. Hanrahan is set to earn around $7 million this season in his final year of arbitration.

Holt, 24, was the Pirates’ 9th round pick in 2009 and made his ML debut last season. Over 72 plate appearances, Holt posted a line of .292/.329/.354. He owns a career .317 batting average over four minor league seasons.

Melancon, 27, served as the Houston Astros closer during 2011, converting 20 of 25 save opportunities before being traded to Boston last year. He laid an egg last year with a 6.20 ERA with the Red Sox.

Sands, 25, is a power-hitting corner OF and is capable of playing first base as well. He played in just nine games at the ML level last season, but hit .296/.375/.524 with 26 homers in the hitter friendly PCL, so it will be interesting to see how that translates at the ML level. He has hit 25+ homers in each of the past three years in the minors.

De Jesus, 25, has little ML experience, but his time in the minors show he’s similar to Holt. He has hit for average, but not much power.

Pimental, 22, is the only player in the trade with no ML experience. Last year at Double-A, he posted a 4.59 ERA in 115 2/3 innings with 86 strikeouts and 42 walks.

Holt and Hanrahan were both on the Pirates’ 40-man roster. Melancon and Sands were on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, so there won’t need to be any additional roster shuffling because of this trade. De Jesus was designated for assignment last month and was not claimed. He will receive a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.

That’s the final deal and a little about each player. I’ll have more with my thoughts on the trade later on.