After yesterdays post, in which I proclaimed there would likely be no major news this week, comes word from Bradenton of two previously undisclosed injuries that could affect the bullpen and bench spots I talked about yesterday.  This post, from mlb.com Pirates Beat Writer Jen Langosch, details an elbow injury to pitcher Joel Hanrahan and a knee injury to utility infielder Ramon Vazquez.

Vazquez is supposed to be ready for opening day, but if that scheduled gets pushed back some, that would open up an extra spot on the bench to open the year until Vazquez can go.  While some have speculated that he was on the fence to make the team to begin with, my personal feeling is that he was a lock for a bench spot due to his salary and veteran presence.  Either way, the injury may cloud his status a bit as we move toward opening day.

Hanrahan’s injury is much more serious, as he is scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews next week, which is almost never a good sign.  Hanrahan, one of the few bullpen holdovers from last season, will likely miss at least the beginning part of the season.  Hanrahan was projected to be a set-up man this season, and who fills that role is hard to say at this juncture, but at the very least it just makes the backend of the bullpen a little less certain and opens up an extra spot for one of the many NRIs.