By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

The Pirates continue to retool the club's 40-man roster, with three more players being removed from it on Friday. Right-handers Virgil Vasquez and Eric Hacker were outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis. Catcher Steve Lerud was sent outright to Double-A Altoona.

With the three subtractions, the Pirates now have 36 players on their 40-man roster. Relievers Evan Meek and Jose Ascanio remain on the 60-day disabled list and will take two of those vacant spots soon. The Pirates have until Nov. 20 to finalize their 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10.

None of Friday's three roster moves comes as much of a surprise. Vasquez and Hacker both spent minimal time on the Major League roster in 2009. Lerud spent all of last season as Altoona's primary catcher.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

There's probably no question I get asked more frequently than that one. I'm not sure what people think I do -- take a three-month vacation or go hibernate in my house.

My answer to the question is: Actually, I do quite a bit. Sure, there's a lot less traveling involved, and if I'm lucky, I get some nights and weekends free for a change. But as any true baseball fan knows, the news keeps flowing 24/7/365 (well, maybe not on Christmas, if we're lucky).

The offseason has now officially started, meaning the hot stove season is about to get into full swing. Below you'll see a list of important dates to keep handy over the next few months as we work our way closer to Bradenton, Fla., for Spring Training 2010.

(On a side note... the Spring Training schedule/dates have not been released yet, but expect for them to be made public soon).

IMPORTANT DATES:

• November 5: Players can file for free agency

This is today, of course, and marks the first day of a 15-day period in which players with enough Major League service time can begin filing for free agency.

This doesn't affect the Pirates directly because there are no players on the club that can become free agents. Other teams with players bound for free agency have this 15-day window to also negotiate exclusively with its players.

• November 20: Free agent pool opens

That exclusive period for negotiations ends on this day, giving all teams the ability to talk with all eligible free agents. Let the madness begin...

• November 20: Deadline to set Major League and Minor League rosters

This will affect the Rule 5 Draft that happens a few weeks later during the Winter Meetings. Teams have until this date to set tweak its 40-man roster. After Nov. 20, any players left off of the Major League 40-man roster who have played four years in the Minors (if drafted when 19 or older) or five years in the Minors (if drated when 18 or younger) are eligible to be snatched up in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Pirates do have some decisions to make before this date. The Pirates have one vacancy on their 40-man roster and have a number of players that are expected to be added: Evan Meek (60-day DL), Jose Ascanio (60-day DL),  Brad Lincoln (Rule 5 eligible), Gorkys Hernandez (Rule 5 eligible) and Bryan Morris (Rule 5 eligible).

• December 1: Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to receive compensation

Teams who have players that are determined to be Type A or Type B free agents (status is determined through this nifty Elias point system) have the opportunity to offer those players arbitration. If the player accepts, the two sides then are bound to negotiate. If the player declines, the team then receives either one or two compensation Draft picks in 2010 from the team that eventually signs this player.

Again, this does not affect the Pirates this year since they have no free agents.

• December 7-10: Winter Meetings

Baseball's annual rumor mill extravaganza kicks of in Indy for three days of 'he said, she said' and then culminates with the Rule 5 Draft. The Winter Meetings actually sound much more glamorous to those who never go. The reality is, it's a lot of shooting down nonsensical rumors and watching baseball writers go crazy amid speculation.

The final day of the Winter Meetings is when the Rule 5 Draft is held. The Pirates have made a selection in each of GM Neal Huntington's first two years, so it's likely they will again.

• December 12: Deadline for teams to tender a contract to arbitration-eligble players

Two days after the Winter Meetings end, teams have to make final decisions about whether to tender a contract to players that are eligible for arbitration. Players who aren't tendered contracts become free agents. Those that are then have the ability to negotiate with the team in hopes of trying to avoid a February arbitration hearing. 

The Pirates have four arbitration-eligible players: Matt Capps, Ronny Cedeno, Zach Duke and Jeff Karstens (Super 2). As things stand now, I'd expect the Pirates to offer a contract to each one.

That should take you through the end of 2009 in terms of hot stove hot dates. Now the only question left: how many days until Spring Training?

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

While I'm sitting in the cafeteria of Yankee Stadium waiting for the start of Game 6, how about we take a look at how the Pirates' six organizational players are doing so far in the Arizona Fall League:

• Daniel Moskos: The lefty is pitching out of the bullpen in Arizona and has so far made seven appearances. He has allowed six earned runs on 14 hits and seven walks in 9 1/3 innings. Moskos has nine strikeouts.
• Donnie Veal: Veal has gone 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA in four starts. He was named the AFL pitcher of the week last week after throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings. Veal has walked just two and has 12 strikeouts.
• Tony Watson: In six relief appearances, Watson has limited opponents to just one earned run in seven innings. He has allowed four hits, walked three and struck out six.
• Chase D'Arnaud: D'Arnaud is hitting .211 in his first 10 games with the Scottsdale Scorpions. In 38 at-bats, D'Arnaud has four extra-base hits and two RBIs.
• Brian Friday: The middle infielder has scuffled a bit out of the gate, batting just .194 in his first seven games. Friday has driven in four, but also has 10 strikeouts in 31 at-bats.
• Jose Tabata: The promising young outfielder has hit .348 in 16 games for the Scorpions. He has six extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored. Heading into Wednesday's action, that average was second best on the Scottsdale club.

Also worth noting: D'Arnaud, Moskos and Tabata have been named to the AFL's rising stars rosters, which is a showcase game that will be played on Saturday (much like an All-Star Game). A total of 50 players earned the honor. The game will be telecast on the MLB Network at 6:15 p.m. MT.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

On Tuesday, the Pirates acquired second baseman Akinori Iwamura from the Rays in exchange for right-hander Jesse Chavez. The Pirates will take on Iwamura's $4.85 million salary in 2010, a dollar figure that actually makes Iwamura the Pirates' highest paid player at the moment. No cash changed hands in the deal.

With Iwamura in tow, the Pirates now have their immediate answer at second base for 2010. After trading away Freddy Sanchez in July, the Pirates were left with no strong internal replacements. Delwyn Young got his chance to be the team's everyday second baseman for the final two months, but even after intensive daily defensive work with infield coach Perry Hill, he was still not seen as the optimal choice to be the everyday player there next season.

"It was a chance more to get an established player," GM Neal Huntington said. "It returns Delwyn to a role that he's excelled at. Ultimately, we felt Iwamura was a better fit for long term."

For Young, that role will be on the bench, where he hit. .316 in 38 pinch-hit appearances in 2010.

Iwamura, 30, comes to Pittsburgh after hitting .281 with 103 RBIs in 344 career games over three seasons with the Rays. He has also spent a considerable amount of his time in the Majors as a third baseman, though the Pirates do not have a need to use him there.

Huntington said that ideally Iwamura would be a solid fit to hit second in the batting order behind Andrew McCutchen. The left-handed hitter batted primarily from the leadoff spot in his time with the Rays.

Iwamura was limited to only 69 games in '09 and needed left knee surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. Huntington said that the Pirates have not independently examined Iwamura's knee, but that all the medical reports suggest that there will be no lingering issues.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

The Pirates are on the verge of completing a deal for Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the deal has actually already been finalized and an announcement will come later on Tuesday evening after Tampa Bay has been able to reach Iwamura in Japan once the sun rises there.

Right now, it's unknown who the Pirates will part ways with in the trade, though the Rays are known in the market for young catching and young pitching.

The deal will be a sign-and-trade one, as the Rays hold a $4.85 million club option on Iwamura for 2010. Tampa Bay was not expected to pick up the option and had been prepared to pay a $550,000 buyout and watch Iwamura enter the free agent pool. Now, though, the Rays can exercise the option and then immediately send Iwamura to Pittsburgh.

Trading for Iwamura, who hit .291 in an injury-plagued 2009 season, would address one of Pittsburgh's biggest needs this winter since the Pirates entered the offseason without an established second baseman ready for '10. Delwyn Young spent the last two months of the season trying to show that he could be the second baseman of the future, but when the season ended, there were still questions about his defensive ability.

Iwamura, 30, has hit .281 with 103 RBIs in 344 career games over three seasons with the Rays. He has also spent a considerable amount of his time in the Majors as a third baseman.

From what I've heard, it's not believed that the Pirates are going to deal away someone who is as established as closer Matt Capps.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Pirates lefty Donnie Veal has been named pitcher of the week in the Arizona Fall League after making two scoreless starts last week. In those two starts, Veal logged 7 2/3 innings and gave up just five hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

In four AFL starts so far, Veal is 2-0 and has allowed only one earned run in 12 2/3 innings. He has issued two walks while notching 12 strikeouts for the Scottsdale Scorpions club. He leads all AFL starters with his 0.71 ERA and ranks second in opponent batting average (.159)

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Anyone who was still hoping that the Pirates could somehow bring second baseman Freddy Sanchez back to Pittsburgh, I've got some not-so-good-news for you. The Giants and Sanchez agreed to a two-year contract extension on Friday, meaning that Sanchez will stay right where the Pirates traded him.

Sanchez was traded to the Giants on July 29 for RHP Tim Alderson on a day in which the Pirates dealt away both of its middle infielders.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Sanchez's deal is worth $12 million total over two years. You'll remember that the Pirates offered Sanchez a two-year, $10 million extension in mid-July. Sanchez turned down that initial offer and was traded soon after. At the time that Sanchez rejected the offer, though, he was still on pace to trigger an automatic $8 million option for 2010. As it turned out, though, Sanchez ended up falling short of the plate appearance threshold he needed to guarantee that option because of late-season injuries.

Jumpin' Jack Flash: While we're on the subject of former Pirates infielders, I might as well note here that shortstop Jack Wilson won the 2009 Fielding Bible Award for all Major League shortstops. Winners of the award are determined by a panel of 10 and is announced in Bill James' 2010 Handbook. He led all shortstops in James' "runs saved" category with 27. St. Louis' Brendan Ryan was second with 19.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB  

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

The Pirates have filled their final coaching vacancy, naming Minor League infield coordinator Carlos Garcia the team's first base coach for 2010. Garcia, a former Pirates player, most recently served as the organization's Minor League infield coordinator.

Garcia assumes the position left empty by Perry Hill's recent departure. Like Hill, Garcia will be responsible for instructing the team's infielders in addition to his duties as the first base coach. He will be the fourth first base coach the Pirates have had in as many years.

Though this marks Garcia's first Major League coaching job with Pittsburgh, he has held a similar position before. Garcia served as the Mariners' infield instructor and third base coach for three years, beginning in 2005. Before that, Garcia worked as a hitting and infield coach for Triple-A Buffalo from 2003-04.

"Carlos Garcia adds another experienced baseball man to John Russell's staff," general manager Neal Huntington said. "His years as a player, Minor League infield coordinator and Major League coach, combined with his energy and abilities as an instructor make him a great addition to our big league staff."

As a player, Garcia spent parts of seven years with the Pirates after making his Major League debut in Pittsburgh in 1990. He was an All-Star second baseman in 1994 and finished his career in 1999 after making stops in Toronto, Anaheim and San Diego.

The rest of Russell's coaching staff from 2009 will remain intact for another season. Also, by using Garcia in an identical role to Hill, the Pirates will not need to shuffle around the responsibilities of anyone else on the staff.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Though there has been a push from some in Pittsburgh to have Roberto Clemente's No. 21 retired across baseball in the same way Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was, Commissioner Bud Selig said on Thursday that Major League Baseball has no plans to do so.

Said Selig, who was speaking at Yankee Stadium prior to Game 2 of the World Series: "Jackie Robinson transcended baseball. You want to be very careful about retiring numbers. We honor Roberto every chance we get in every other way we can."

One of those ways came on Thursday, when the Roberto Clemente Award was given to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. The award, which has been presented annually since 1971, is given to a player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field. The honor was named after Clemente in 1973, shortly after his tragic death in a plane crash.

Among those on hand to present the award to Jetere was Vera Clemente, Roberto's wife. It was also announced on Thursday that she has been named goodwill ambassador for MLB.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

In an effort to give the club another potential bullpen arm to look at for the 2010 season, the Pirates claimed left-hander Justin Thomas off waivers from the Mariners on Thursday.

Thomas, a fourth-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has only minimal big-league experience so far in his career. The left-hander made eight appearances out of Seattle's bullpen in 2008, during which he allowed three runs on nine hits in four innings.

Thomas, 25, spent all of the '09 season as a reliever for the Mariners' Triple-A Tacoma (Wash.) affiliate. There, he finished 2-4 with a 4.48 ERA in 53 games. He walked 40 and struck out 53 in 60 1/3 innings pitched.

"Justin Thomas is a competitive, aggressive and physical lefthander with an average three pitch mix," general manager Neal Huntington said. "With continued development, we feel he could be an interesting option for our bullpen."

As the Pirates look to fill current holes before the start of the 2010 season, finding some left-handed relief help is at the top of the list. Pittsburgh finished the season with two lefty relievers, but Donnie Veal is expected to begin the 2010 season as a starter in Triple-A and Phil Dumatrait struggled immensely after coming back from shoulder surgery.

With the addition of Thomas, the Pirates now have 39 players on the club's 40-man roster. Relievers Evan Meek and Jose Ascanio, both of whom are on still on the 60-day disabled list, still need to be added to that roster before Nov. 20, which means Pittsburgh still has some roster shuffling yet to do.

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB