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Joe La Sorsa Joe La Sorsa Reporting to Triple-A Indianapolis
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 3:35 PM
La Sorsa will remain in the Pittsburgh organization and will accept an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis after going unclaimed off waivers Wednesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Analysis: La Sorsa, who had attended Pirates camp on a minor-league deal, had an upward-mobility clause in his contract that allowed him to move on from the Pirates if another organization had claimed him off waivers and placed him on its Opening Day roster. However, after finding no suitors on the waiver wire, La Sorsa will stick around with the Pirates and likely serve as a high-leverage arm in the Indianapolis bullpen to begin the season. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Could see save chances
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 11:25 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Soto is in the mix to see save opportunities this season, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Dennis Santana will enter the season as the favorite to see most of the save chances for Pittsburgh. However, Kelly noted that he could use Santana in leverage spots earlier in games at times, and the skipper also pointed out Soto's closing experience. The left-handed Soto has held lefty bats to a .211/.306/.294 batting line in his career, making him a candidate to see some save chances when the opposition has lefties due up in the ninth inning. |
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Dennis Santana Dennis Santana Will not be full-time closer
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 11:16 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Santana will not be the only reliever he uses for save opportunities, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Analysis: Santana notched 16 saves for Pittsburgh last season, with 10 of those coming in the final two months after David Bednar was traded. The 29-year-old is the heavy favorite to lead the Pirates in saves in 2026, but Kelly noted that he could use Santana earlier in games at times if the situation calls for it. Gregory Soto looks to be next in the pecking order and could be used to close when the opposition has lefty bats due up. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo In line for everyday shortstop role
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 10:08 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that he plans to use Triolo as the team's everyday shortstop to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "Just feel like he's been so good at short in his limited time last year," Kelly said of Triolo. "He's good anywhere you put him. But just felt like being a shortstop, having him there when he's on the field is really important."
Analysis: A Gold Glove Award winner as a utility man in 2024, Triolo continued to provide strong defense at multiple infield spots in 2025, logging 44 starts at shortstop, 30 at third base, 12 at first base and 10 at second base. He'll carry eligibility at the former two positions in most fantasy leagues heading into 2026, but the Pirates seemingly want to deploy Triolo on more of a full-time basis at shortstop rather than shifting him all over the infield as needs arise. Triolo has already proved that he belongs in the big leagues defensively, but the jury is still out as to whether he's worthy of a regular spot in the everyday lineup. The 28-year-old owns a mediocre 87 wRC+ over parts of three seasons in the big leagues, but he took a major step forward in the second half of 2025, slashing .276/.353/.422 (117 wRC+) with four home runs and eight stolen bases across 216 plate appearances. |
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Nick Gonzales Nick Gonzales Set to see most starts at 3B
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 9:53 AM
Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that Gonzales is slated to see most of his playing time at third base to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Gonzales entered spring training poised to take over as the Pirates' primary shortstop in 2026 after making his 11 of his final 13 starts at that position last season once Isiah Kiner-Falefa was out of the picture upon being claimed off waivers by Toronto. In a somewhat surprising decision, however, Kelly has opted to move Jared Triolo -- who secured a Gold Glove as a utility man in 2024 -- off of third base with the plan to use him at shortstop on an everyday basis. Gonzales should still be comfortable at third base after logging four starts at that spot in spring training, and he's expected to quickly gain eligibility at that position in most fantasy leagues while also carrying over eligibility at second base from 2025. He'll likely take longer to attain eligibility at shortstop, unless Triolo misses time with an injury early in the season. |
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Jose Urquidy Jose Urquidy Makes roster
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:09 AM
The Pirates informed Urquidy on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Urquidy didn't have a good spring, logging a 9.28 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 10.2 innings. However, he'll break camp with the big club as a long reliever after signing a $1.5 million contract in the offseason. |
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Hunter Barco Hunter Barco Makes Opening Day roster
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:06 AM
The Pirates informed Barco on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Barco has been trending up, making his big-league debut at the end of last season and following that up with a strong spring training. The 25-year-old lefty had a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB in 9.1 innings in Grapefruit League play. Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth starter spot, but Barco and Jose Urquidy also made the club in long-relief roles. The Pirates could look to have Barco piggyback another starter during the first turn through the five-man rotation. |
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Mike Clevinger Mike Clevinger Headed to Triple-A
Mon, Mar 23, 2026, 8:00 AM
The Pirates reassigned Clevinger to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Analysis: He was in camp as a non-roster invitee and logged a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB in 14.1 innings this spring. Jose Urquidy beat out Clevinger for the final long-relief spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen. |
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Nick Yorke Nick Yorke Set for utility role
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:26 PM
Yorke has earned a roster spot with the Pirates to begin the 2026 season, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Yorke had a contact-heavy approach at the plate this spring, as he struck out only four times across 49 plate appearances. However, he also had only two extra-base hits and a .370 slugging percentage. Yorke's primary value to the Pirates will be his versatility, as he played across the infield and both corner outfield spots this spring. He should operate primarily as a bench bat. |
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Billy Cook Billy Cook Secures roster spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 11:21 PM
Cook will begin the season on the major-league roster, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cook doesn't figure to draw starts often, but he'll serve as the fifth outfielder and should also be an emergency option at first base. Cook has had a solid spring, slugging two homers with seven RBI and seven runs scored in 19 games while reaching base at a .347 clip across 48 plate appearances. |
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Carmen Mlodzinski Carmen Mlodzinski Clinches rotation spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 1:46 PM
The Pirates announced that Mlodzinski will start the team's third game of the season next Sunday against the Mets at Citi Field, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Mlodzinski has emerged from spring training with the fifth starter's role after he was involved in a wide-open competition that included Jose Urquidy, Hunter Barco and non-roster invitee Mike Clevinger. Urquidy and/or Clevinger should be in good position to break camp as members of the bullpen, and the Pirates could look to deploy either pitcher in tandem with Mlodzinski, who built up to five innings and 64 pitches in his most recent Grapefruit League outing back on March 14. Mlodzinski made 12 starts for Pittsburgh in 2025 but never reached six innings in any of those outings. The right-hander pitched effectively both as a starter and out of the bullpen, finishing last season with a 3.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 89:27 K:BB across 99 frames. |
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Chris Devenski Chris Devenski Unable to win roster spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 12:08 PM
The Pirates reassigned Devenski (head) to minor-league camp Sunday.
Analysis: Devenski had been attending camp as a non-roster invitee and had allowed four earned runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. He hadn't pitched since March 13 after taking a line drive off his head in a game against the Tigers, but the veteran reliever was able to walk off the field under his own power and has been resting comfortably at home ever since, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. Assuming he doesn't opt out of his minor-league contract with Pittsburgh, Devenski appears likely to open the season on Triple-A Indianapolis' injured list. |
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Carson Fulmer Carson Fulmer Denied Opening Day roster spot
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 12:04 PM
The Pirates reassigned Fulmer to minor-league camp Sunday.
Analysis: Fulmer is expected to open the season at Triple-A Indianapolis after he was unable to secure a bullpen role with the Pirates coming out of camp. The 32-year-old righty appeared in 13 big-league games with the Angels in 2025, pitching to a 5.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB in 29.1 innings. |
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Alika Williams Alika Williams Fails to win utility gig
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 12:02 PM
The Pirates reassigned Williams to minor-league camp Sunday.
Analysis: Williams will start at second base and bat ninth Sunday against the Red Sox in the Pirates' Grapefruit League finale, but the 27-year-old will fall short in his bid for a utility spot on the Bucs' Opening Day roster. He's expected to report to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he spent the entire 2025 season while slashing .268/.329/.392 with nine home runs and four steals across 394 plate appearances. |
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Cam Sanders Cam Sanders Sent to minors
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 10:34 AM
The Pirates optioned Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: Sanders allowed four runs and struck out 10 over 7.2 innings during spring training, but it wasn't enough to get him a place on the Opening Day roster. The right-hander surrendered six earned runs across 6.2 frames in his first taste of the majors last year. |
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Rafael Flores Jr. Rafael Flores Jr. Optioned to minors
Sun, Mar 22, 2026, 10:31 AM
The Pirates optioned Flores to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Analysis: The 25-year-old struggled this spring, going 2-for-25 with 10 strikeouts and six walks in 14 games. Flores made his MLB debut with seven appearances for Pittsburgh last year and could rejoin the big club in 2026 if depth at first base or catcher is needed. |
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Tyler Callihan Tyler Callihan Optioned to Triple-A
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 9:49 AM
The Pirates optioned Callihan to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Callihan was acquired by the Pirates from the Reds in early March in a move that saw Kyle Nicolas go to Cincinnati. Callihan was competing for a depth spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster and could see some major-league action in 2026 if Pittsburgh needs a utility man on the roster. He made his major-league debut with the Reds in 2025, appearing in four games and going 1-for-6 with an RBI. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Starting season in Triple-A
Sat, Mar 21, 2026, 9:46 AM
The Pirates optioned Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Garcia put together a strong spring training, appearing in 17 Grapefruit League games and posting a .405/.463/.595 slash line with three steals, two home runs and five RBI in 41 plate appearances. Although he won't be part of the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Garcia should have the opportunity to play in the majors this season, especially when Pittsburgh requires more depth in the outfield. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Tapped for Opening Day
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 1:47 PM
Skenes will start Opening Day against the Mets on March 26.
Analysis: It wasn't hard to see this decision coming, as Skenes took home the National League Cy Young Award last season after posting a 1.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP alongside a 216:42 K:BB over 187.2 innings. The 23-year-old ace struggled to collect wins last season -- a problem that could continue into 2026 -- but he should still be viewed as one of the top fantasy pitchers in virtually all formats. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Relegated to Indianapolis
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 12:43 PM
The Pirates optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis: Rodriguez made a strong case to make the Pirates' Opening Day roster while posting a .977 OPS across 30 plate appearances this spring, but he will instead return to Triple-A to begin the regular season. The 25-year-old would likely be recalled to Pittsburgh if the big club needs extra depth behind the plate or at first base. |
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