Joel Alberto Piñeiro (born September 25, 1978 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is 6'1" tall, and weighs 200 pounds. His name is pronounced "Joe-El". He is right-handed, and made his major league debut on August 8, . Although he has had early success, his career has been plagued with control problems and inconsistency.
Joel Piñeiro began the baseball season as a promising starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. 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 loses). 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 AAA 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.
Following the 2006 season, the Mariners declined to tender Piñeiro a contract offer, making him a free agent. On January 3, , he reached a preliminary agreement for a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, where he struggled as a member of their bullpen. On July 22, he was designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for Jon Lester. Piniero cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's AAA affiliate, where he returned to the starting rotation.
On July 31, 2007, Pineiro was traded to the Cardinals, with cash considerations, for a player to be named later. In his debut start with the Cardinals on August 4 vs. the Washington Nationals, he pitched 5.0 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 vs. the San Diego Padres, 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.
