Pirates Releasing Ex-Yankee Top Prospect Jeff Karstens Was a Surprise

Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes a look at the puzzling release of pitcher Jeff Karstens.

In order to set their 40-man roster, the Pirates announced yesterday that they waived starter-reliever Jeff Karstens late yesterday. Karstens had gone 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA last season after being picked up in the Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte trade in July 2008 with the New York Yankees.

The move allowed the Pirates to claim right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle. Jakubauskas, 30, was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games last season, eight of them starts.

I definitely see Karstens getting picked up quickly. He was considered one of the Yankees better prospects a couple of years back. At the time of the trade, most Pirate fans believed they had been robbed, but Nady ended up being injured and Marte has struggled as well, although he did well in the World Series vs. the lefty batters on the Phillies.

Read more about this front office decision by the Pirates here.