Frank

Brooks

That’s three “Moneyball” teams for Brooks, who pitched for Oakland and Boston last spring after being taken in the Rule 5 draft. He’ll compete for a spot on the Dodgers as a lefty specialist. He has options remaining, so there’s a good chance he’ll start the season in the minors.

Brooks may not be the most talented player in the draft, but he is someone capable of stepping in and helping a major league team right away. The Pirates are also likely to at least temporarily lose C-1B Chris Shelton, OF Rich Thompson and perhaps RHP Jeff Bennett and 3B Jose Bautista today.

Mike Neu stayed on Oakland all last year for the same reason, but Brooks may not find a spot. Jim Mecir’s healthy will likely be the deciding factor.

Brooks, who could make the A’s or the Red Sox after being selected in the December Rule 5 draft, will join the Pirates after posting a 4.10 ERA in eight starts and 34 relief appearances for Nashville. He should eventually become a solid lefty reliever, but it might not happen with Pittsburgh.

Brooks was having success as a reliever. He’ll return to the pen now.

Brooks would have started in Thursday’s doubleheader if not for Wednesday’s rainout. He belongs in the pen, but if the Pirates want to look at him as a starter for now, that’s fine.

Brooks, who has an .093 ERA in six relief appearances with the Pirates, is well liked by his manager. Llyod McClendon told reporters “I just like his stuff. He is a strike thrower. Keeps the ball down in the zone”.

If Brooks can just survive the next two days -- the Pirates might send him down to bring in a fresh arm -- he should spend the rest of the year in the Pittsburgh pen.

Brooks was taken by the A’s in last year’s Rule 5 draft and then claimed by the Red Sox only to return to the Pirates in mid-March. There should be further interest in him this time, especially since he had a 2.76 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings as a reliever for the Pirates last season.

Brooks pitched just one-third of an inning in 11 days with the Braves.