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

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

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. He played in

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(MLB) for the

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, and

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. He officially retired after appearing on the

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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

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. 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

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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 or manager 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 a contract at present ...

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

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

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 31, 2007, Piñeiro was traded to the

, 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

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, 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

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, 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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's Christina Kahrl 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). He became a free agent following the 2011 season.

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. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

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

Baltimore Orioles

On April 11, 2012, Piñeiro signed a minor league contract with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) 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 America ...

. He made 5 starts split between the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Orioles and Triple–A

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before missing the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Piñeiro elected free agency following the season on November 2. Piñeiro re-signed with the Orioles on a new minor league contract on February 1, 2013. He was released by the Orioles organization on July 30.

Chicago Cubs

On March 30, 2014, 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 a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

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

Los Angeles Angels (second stint)

On June 7, 2014, Piñeiro signed a minor league conteact to return to the

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

organization, less than a day after being released by the Cubs. He was released on June 30, 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) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

. He was assigned to the Double-A

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, and later the Triple-A

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. 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 Sportspeople from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico Baseball players from San Juan, 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 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