BRADENTON, Fla. — Until a week and a half ago, Daniel Nava was unemployed. Again.
Nava’s used to that. He didn’t play college baseball until his sophomore year, had to transfer to community college his junior season and lived off scraps in an independent league before a big-league team took notice. So while the number and quality of free agents has been the predominant story in baseball this offseason, Nava was better suited for the uncertainty than most.
Then, on Feb. 9, the Pirates signed the switch-hitting outfielder to a minor-league contract. Four days later, he’d reported to Pirate City.