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Aaron Poreda

Charlie Cutler

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — True to their name, the Pittsburgh Pirates plundered two Jewish minor-leaguers on the cheap in the recent Rule 5 draft.

One target was St. Louis Cardinals prospect Charlie Cutler. In 2011, the 25-year-old catcher hit a team-high .333 with the Springfield Cardinals (AA) and .404 with runners in scoring position, inspiring Jewish Baseball News to name him its Minor-League Comeback Player of the Year.

The Pirates also picked up reliever Aaron Poreda from the San Diego Padres. Also 25, Poreda has some major-league experience, having played for both the Chicago White Sox and the Padres in 2009, but has never lived up to his potential. In 2011 he went 4-3 with a 5.43 ERA for the Tucson Padres (AAA).

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