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Joey Bart Joey Bart Top of depth chart at catcher
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 8:42 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on Dec. 10 in an interview on MLB Network that Bart will enter 2025 as the favorite to start at catcher, The Bucco Beat reports.
Analysis: The Pirates acquired Bart shortly after Opening Day and he eventually emerged as the team's primary catcher, slashing .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs over 280 plate appearances. Endy Rodriguez will be back from elbow surgery and Henry Davis is still around, so Bart will have competition for playing time behind the plate, but he'll enter the season with a leg up for the starting job. |
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Enmanuel Valdez Enmanuel Valdez Shipped to Pittsburgh
Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:42 AM
The Red Sox traded Valdez to the Pirates on Sunday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Joe Vogatsky.
Analysis: Valdez was DFA'd by Boston on Wednesday, but he'll get a fresh start in the Pirates organization. Valdez slashed .214/.270/.363 with six home runs in 223 plate appearances in 2024 while primarily playing second base. |
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Carson Fulmer Carson Fulmer Invited to Pirates' camp
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 7:01 PM
Fulmer signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Friday and received an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Over a career-high 86.2 innings with the Angels last season, Fulmer logged a 4.15 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 37 appearances (eight starts). If the right-hander is able to offer similar production during spring training, he could have a decent shot at making the Pirates' Opening Day roster, though it's unclear if Pittsburgh will prefer to use him as a starter or out of the bullpen. |
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Tanner Rainey Tanner Rainey Receives NRI from Pittsburgh
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 8:13 AM
The Pirates signed Rainey to a minor-league contract Dec. 6 that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Rainey was non-tendered by the Nationals in November after posting a 4.76 ERA and 44:29 K:BB over 51 frames in 2024 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. The reliever's stuff hasn't looked the same post-op, but he's a fine gamble on a non-roster deal in hopes that he can rediscover it. |
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Nick Solak Nick Solak Nets MiLB deal from Pittsburgh
Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 2:12 PM
The Pirates signed Solak to a minor-league contract Dec. 6.
Analysis: Solak, who turns 30 in January, slashed .311/.406/.446 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases over 90 games at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization in 2024. He has a career .252/.327/.372 batting line in parts of five major-league seasons. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Rerouted to Pittsburgh
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 9:51 PM
The Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Just hours after being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, Horwitz will now land in Pittsburgh instead while the Guardians add to their organizational depth. The 27-year-old has covered first and second base during his time in the big leagues and should have no problem starting regularly in a Pirates infield that lacks impact bats. Moving to Pittsburgh will also reunite him with hitting coach Matt Hague, under whom Horwitz posted a .790 OPS in 2024. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Should be good for spring training
Mon, Dec 9, 2024, 5:03 PM
Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Rodriguez (elbow) is expected to be fully healthy for the start of spring training, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez was sidelined for the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in December of 2023. He was able to progress in his recovery enough to go on a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona in September, and it appears the 24-year-old right-hander will be able to report for the start of spring training. Rodriguez played in 57 regular-season games for the Pirates in 20223 and finished with a slash line of .220/.284/.328 with three home runs and 13 RBI over 204 plate appearances. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Back with Bucs
Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 6:58 PM
Stratton (knee) signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Stratton was with the Pirates in 2024 and threw 37.2 innings out of the bullpen while maintaining a 3.58 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. His recovery from knee surgery could spill over into the regular season, but he's likely to contribute as a reliever for the big-league club at some point in 2025. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Returns to Pittsburgh
Thu, Dec 5, 2024, 2:57 PM
Mattson signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Mattson appeared in three games for the Pirates last season, during which he allowed three earned runs over 5.1 innings while striking out six batters and walking five. Most of his time was spent at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he turned in a 3.19 ERA over 62 frames. The 29-year-old will almost certainly return to Indy to begin the 2025 campaign, though a strong start could earn him another look in Pittsburgh's bullpen. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Expected to see time at first base
Thu, Dec 5, 2024, 12:18 PM
The Pirates plan to play Reynolds at first base, at least on a part-time basis, in 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Reynolds has never played first base in pro ball, but he began working out there in September of this past season. The soon-to-be 30-year-old graded out as one of the worst outfield defenders in baseball in 2024, ranking in the first percentile in Outs Above Average. How much action Reynolds ultimately sees at first base could depend not only on how well he takes to the position but also how the Pirates address the position this offseason. |
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Peter Strzelecki Peter Strzelecki Shipped to Pittsburgh
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 7:10 PM
The Guardians traded Strzelecki to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for cash.
Analysis: Strzelecki was designated for assignment Tuesday in order to make room for Franco Aleman on the Guardians' 40-man roster, but the former will now claim a spot on Pittsburgh's 40-man upon switching organizations. The 30-year-old put up a 5.01 ERA and 1.39 WHIP across 46.2 innings in the minors last season, and he will compete for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen during spring training. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Brings home NL ROY
Mon, Nov 18, 2024, 6:26 PM
Skenes was named the 2024 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year on Monday.
Analysis: This award comes as no surprise for Skenes, who earned 23 first-place votes and seven second-place votes in a landslide victory. The flamethrower posted an eye-poping 1.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 170 strikeouts over 23 starts (133.0 innings) during his rookie campaign. However, Skenes already has his sights on next season, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I was super pleased with this year, going out there and competing. But there's more work to be done." |
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Yerry Rodriguez Yerry Rodriguez Minor-league deal with Pittsburgh
Mon, Nov 18, 2024, 1:47 PM
The Pirates signed Rodriguez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez, 27, appeared in 30 games at the major-league level from 2022-24 posting an 8.17 ERA and 33:19 K:BB over 36.1 innings. The righty reliever boasts a 28.3 percent strikeout rate during his time at the Triple-A level, so he has some bat-missing ability if he can just throw enough strikes. |
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Isaac Mattson Isaac Mattson Removed from 40-man roster
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 4:33 PM
The Pirates outrighted Mattson to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Mattson is no longer on the 40-man roster but will stick around in the organization. He allowed three runs over 5.1 relief innings for the Pirates this season. |
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Daulton Jefferies Daulton Jefferies Outrighted to Triple-A
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 4:32 PM
The Pirates outrighted Jefferies to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Jefferies has been outrighted previously, so he could elect free agency if he wants. The right-hander ended the season on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury, but he had been making rehab starts so he should be healthy heading into the offseason. |
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Ben Heller Ben Heller Outrighted to Triple-A
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 4:29 PM
The Pirates outrighted Heller (shoulder) to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Heller ended the season on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder issue. He's off the 60-day IL but will not return to the 40-man roster. It's not clear how healthy his shoulder is now. |
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Trey Cabbage Trey Cabbage Claimed by Pittsburgh
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 1:16 PM
The Pirates claimed Cabbage off waivers from the Astros on Monday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Cabbage, 27, slashed just .209/.253/.337 with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate this season with the Astros. He's shown big power and some speed in the minors and the Pirates will hope they can get more out of the outfielder at the major-league level. |
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Malcom Nunez Malcom Nunez Back with Pittsburgh as NRI
Fri, Nov 1, 2024, 1:13 PM
The Pirates re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Friday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: Nunez, who turns 24 in March, batted .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs over 128 games this season with Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be with the Pirates in spring training but is likely headed back to Indianapolis to begin 2025. |
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Tristan Gray Tristan Gray Claimed by Pittsburgh
Thu, Oct 31, 2024, 5:07 PM
The Pirates claimed Gray off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday.
Analysis: Gray appeared in 15 MLB games last season between the Marlins and A's, during which he went 3-for-28 with 16 strikeouts. He fared much better in Triple-A, where he slashed .248/.317/.462 across 470 plate appearances. He'll claim a spot on the 40-man roster as he joins the Pirates organization, though he'll most likely begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Yohan Ramirez Yohan Ramirez Latches on with Pittsburgh
Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 12:33 PM
The Pirates signed Ramirez to a minor-league contract on Oct. 13.
Analysis: Ramirez, 29, made a total of 32 appearances during stints with the Mets, Orioles, Dodgers and Red Sox in 2024, accumulating a 6.20 ERA and 45:17 K:BB over 45 innings. The right-hander will give the Pirates some organizational relief depth. |
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