Joel Alberto Piñeiro (, ; born September 25, 1978) is a Puerto Rican former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or dr ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

(MLB) for the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...

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, St. Louis Cardinals, and

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ...

. He officially retired after appearing on the

2017 World Baseball Classic The 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, composed of 16 competing nations, held from March 6 to March 22, 2017. It was the fourth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. The first-round hosts ...

roster for Puerto Rico.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Piñeiro began the baseball season as a promising starting

for the

. The previous two years he started in 60 games, won a total of 30 games, and produced a 3.52 ERA. 2004 though, turned into a dismal year with Piñeiro posting a 4.67 ERA and the first losing record of his career (6 wins – 11 losses). Piñeiro suffered another problem when he was placed on the disabled list July 27, 2004, with a sore elbow and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. Piñeiro continued his struggles in and was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on May 14, 2005. He returned to the majors and started in 30 total games; however he was unable to return to his previous form and posted a 5.62 ERA for the year. In , Piñeiro was pulled from the starting rotation again on August 26, and placed in the bullpen. His 6.36 ERA was the highest in the major leagues. Following the 2006 season, the Mariners declined to tender Piñeiro a contract offer, making him a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who i ...

Boston Red Sox

On January 3, , he reached an agreement for a one-year deal with the

, where he struggled as a member of the bullpen. On July 22, he was designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for

Jon Lester Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals. L ...

. Piñeiro cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with the

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

, Boston's Triple-A affiliate, where he returned to the starting rotation.

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 31, 2007, Piñeiro was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, with cash considerations, for a player to be named later (minor league outfielder Sean Danielson). In his debut start with the Cardinals on August 4 vs. the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

, he pitched 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 home run while taking his second loss of the year in the Cardinals 12–1 loss. In his debut home start with the Cardinals on August 9 against the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

, he out-pitched Chris Young, giving up only 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and earning 4 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 4.50 for the year in winning his second game with the Cardinals in their 5–0 win. For the rest of 2007, Piñeiro showed some flashes of promise but general inconsistency, finishing with a record of 6–4 and posting an earned run average of 3.96 for his new team. 2008 was a season typified by inconsistency and a trip to the DL, as Piñeiro allowed home runs and 180 hits in IP, posting a 7–7 record and 5.15 ERA. However, leading into 2009, Piñeiro reinvented his approach, utilizing a sinking fastball to pitch to contact and concede more ground balls, while limiting the number of home runs allowed. In 32 starts, Piñeiro posted a 15–12 record with a 3.49 ERA and led the major leagues with 1.1 walks per nine innings rate. After the 2009 season, Piñeiro filed for free agency.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On January 22, 2010, Piñeiro signed a 2-year, $16 million deal with the

. Because of Piñeiro's volatile performance before the 2009 season, critics were split on the deal, with most wondering whether his sinkerball would continue to be effective in 2010. Taking the sinkerball as starting point, Fangraph's Dave Allen thought, "the price was solid."

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pointed out the different starters that failed after leaving Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan's guiding hand. "There are so many unknowns that it makes the proposition that he'll deliver on this deal seem dubious", concluding "this just doesn't seem like it'll go well." Meanwhile, ESPN's Rob Neyer said quality was not so important as quantity: Piñeiro would be worth the contract if he would just pitch 200 innings per season. His first season was cut short due to injury, starting only 23 games. The following season was met with another trip to the disabled list. He finished 7-7 in 27 games (24 starts).

Philadelphia Phillies

On January 15, 2012, Piñeiro signed a minor league deal that included an invitation to Spring Training with the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

. Piñeiro was released on March 19, 2012, after just six innings in Spring Training.

Baltimore Orioles

Piñeiro signed a minor league contract with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

on April 11, 2012. Piñeiro did not pitch for their organization due to a shoulder injury. Piñeiro re-signed with the Orioles for the 2013 season on a minor league contract.

Chicago Cubs

Piñeiro signed a minor league contract with the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

on April 1, 2014. On June 6, 2014, Piñeiro was released by the Cubs.

Second stint with the Angels

On June 7, 2014, Piñeiro signed a minor league deal to return to the Angels, less than a day after being released by the Cubs. He was released on June 30, 2014, after being suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Toronto Blue Jays

On May 9, 2015, Piñeiro signed a minor league contract with the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

. He was assigned to the Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league club. During the team's first seaso ...

, and later the Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen F ...

. In 13 appearances (11 starts), Piñeiro posted a 5–4 record, 4.23 ERA, and 35 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. He was released on July 22.

Personal life

Piñeiro resides in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico with his wife Shirley and children Joel, Jr. (Born April 7, 2003), Juliana (born November 2, 2005), and twins Adrian & Fabian (born September 18, 2008).

References

External links

Joel Pineiro's page at stlcardinals.scout.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinero, Joel 1978 births Living people People from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico Seattle Mariners players Boston Red Sox players St. Louis Cardinals players Los Angeles Angels players 2006 World Baseball Classic players 2017 World Baseball Classic players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico Arizona League Mariners players Everett AquaSox players Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players Lancaster JetHawks players Orlando Rays players New Haven Ravens players Tacoma Rainiers players Lowell Spinners players Pawtucket Red Sox players Memphis Redbirds players Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino players Norfolk Tides players Gulf Coast Orioles players Tennessee Smokies players New Hampshire Fisher Cats players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Colonial High School alumni Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers baseball players