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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Loses arbitration hearing
Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 8:08 PM
Oviedo (elbow) will be paid $850,000 in 2025 after losing his arbitration hearing to the Pirates, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Oviedo had requested $1.15 million when figures were exchanged earlier this month. The right-hander missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready to go for spring training. Oviedo will compete for a rotation spot this spring, but the Pirates might elect to stash him on the injured list for a while to knock some rust off. |
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Adam Frazier Adam Frazier Back to Pittsburgh on one-year deal
Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 3:59 PM
The Pirates signed Frazier to a one-year, $1.525 million contract Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Frazier's first five-and-a-half seasons in the majors were with the Pirates before he made stops with the Padres, Mariners, Orioles and Royals. The 33-year-old slashed only .202/.282/.294 this past season in Kansas City and has managed just a .632 OPS over the last three seasons. Frazier had thumb surgery in October but should be ready to roll for spring training. He'll likely serve in a utility role in Pittsburgh this season. |
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Ryan Borucki Ryan Borucki Inks minor-league deal with Pirates
Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 1:41 AM
Borucki and the Pirates agreed on a minor-league contract Monday, which includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Borucki spent the 2024 season as a member of the Pirates organization, producing an inflated 7.36 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 11 innings in 14 appearances with Pittsburgh. Additionally, he compiled a 4.76 ERA with 21 punchouts over 11.1 innings in 12 appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis. The left-hander will get a shot to prove himself with the big-league club at spring training and if he is able to crack the team's 26-man roster, he'd earn a base salary of $1.15 million in 2025. |
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Tim Mayza Tim Mayza Reaches deal with Pittsburgh
Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 12:27 AM
Mayza signed one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Pirates on Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mayza, who struggled through one of the worst seasons of his big-league career a season ago across stops with the Blue Jays and Yankees, will have the luxury of a fresh start following Monday's agreement. He was brilliant for the Blue Jays during the 2023 campaign, posting a sparkling 1.52 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and one save across 53.1 innings, so he'll have his sights set on returning to form in Pittsburgh. |
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Tristan Gray Tristan Gray Booted from 40-man roster
Tue, Jan 21, 2025, 1:25 AM
Gray was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Gray will vacate the 40-man roster to make room for Andrew McCutchen, who was officially added to the roster Monday after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal in December. Gray found little success at the big-league level in 2024 during stops with the Marlins and Athletics, going 3-for-28 with one double and three walks over 15 games. |
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Ryder Ryan Ryder Ryan Back with Pittsburgh as NRI
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:47 PM
The Pirates re-signed Ryan to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Ryan, 29, put up a 5.95 ERA and 17:9 K:BB over 20.2 innings out of the Pirates' bullpen in 2024. He'll compete for a relief role in spring training but will probably begin the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Chase Shugart Chase Shugart Lands in Pittsburgh
Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 7:03 PM
The Pirates acquired Shugart from the Red Sox on Friday in exchange for Matt McShane, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Shugart had been designated for assignment. The 28-year-old reached the big leagues for the first time this past season, yielding four runs over 8.2 relief innings. Shugart will compete for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Expected to begin spring training
Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3:17 AM
Stratton (knee) is expected to be ready to pitch at the start of spring training, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Stratton posted a video of him throwing off of a mound Thursday, around a month before pitchers report to spring training. He ruptured his patella tendon in late August but appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery. Though Stratton will be in camp on a minor-league deal, he was effective in 2024 and should contribute out of the bullpen again in 2025. |
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DJ Stewart DJ Stewart Inks MiLB deal with Pittsburgh
Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 7:17 PM
The Pirates signed Stewart to a minor-league contract Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Analysis: Stewart managed an .840 OPS over 58 games with the Mets in 2023 but fell off to a .622 OPS across 74 regular-season contests in 2024. The 31-year-old is right at league average with a career 100 OPS+, so he's not a bad depth option on a minors pact. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Lands on IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 11:16 AM
The Pirates placed Oviedo (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: Oviedo is set to miss the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December, so his move to the IL is merely a procedural one. The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-hander Josh Fleming, whom the Pirates signed to a one-year deal Wednesday. |
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Endy Rodriguez Endy Rodriguez Moved to 60-day IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 11:14 AM
The Pirates placed Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: The transaction is a procedural move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Yasmani Grandal, whom the Pirates signed to a one-year contract. Grandal is projected to slot in as the primary backup to top catcher Henry Davis while Rodriguez is set to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery in December to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow. |
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Josh Fleming Josh Fleming Signs one-year deal with Pittsburgh
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 8:38 AM
Fleming signed a one-year, split contract with the Pirates on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: The 27-year-old will earn $850,000 if he's in the majors. Murray writes that the Pirates plan to use Fleming as a long reliever who could occasionally make a spot start. The left-hander holds a career 4.88 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 144:69 K:BB across 223.1 major-league innings covering parts of four seasons. |
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Yasmani Grandal Yasmani Grandal Signs with Pirates
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 7:18 PM
Grandal agreed Sunday with the Pirates on a one-year $2.5 million contract, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Grandal can earn more with the incentives in the contract. He will join the Pirates after spending the last four seasons with the White Sox. The catcher lost playing time down the final stretch of the season, sitting behind Korey Lee. The 35-year-old had a .489 OPS over 102 plate appearances in the final two months. With Henry Davis entering the spring as a catcher, Grandal will look to play behind him. |
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Connor Sadzeck Connor Sadzeck Headed to Pittsburgh
Fri, Feb 9, 2024, 10:36 AM
Sadzeck signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Feb. 2.
Analysis: Sadzeck was at Triple-A St. Paul in the Twins organization last season, holding a 5.40 ERA and 42:26 K:BB over 35 frames. The 6-foot-7 right-hander will give Pittsburgh some right-handed relief depth at Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Brent Honeywell Jr. Brent Honeywell Jr. Invited to Pirates camp
Wed, Feb 7, 2024, 10:45 PM
Honeywell signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Wednesday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: Honeywell logged a 4.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 52.1 innings last season with the Padres and White Sox. He'll have an opportunity to make the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen in the spring, but Triple-A Indianapolis is Honeywell's likely destination. |
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Ji Hwan Bae Ji Hwan Bae Likely headed for bench role
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 11:18 PM
Bae is likely to begin the 2024 season as the Pirates' fourth outfielder, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bae started 92 games for the Pirates in 2023, 56 of which came at second base and 33 in center field. His results were subpar, as he measured out as a well below-average defender at second base while posting just a 66 wRC+ across 371 plate appearances. As a result, he's likely to begin the new campaign in a reserve role, with Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Jared Triolo vying for at-bats at second base. |
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Canaan Smith-Njigba Canaan Smith-Njigba Designated for assignment
Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 1:02 PM
Smith-Njigba was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster as the Pirates make the signing of Aroldis Chapman official. Smith-Njigba has struggled during his brief chances in the majors the last two seasons, but he slashed .280/.366/.473 with 15 homers and 21 steals in 2023 at Triple-A Indianapolis and will turn just 25 in April, so there could be some interest on waivers. |
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Wily Peralta Wily Peralta Invited to Pirates camp
Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:29 AM
Peralta signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Peralta was at Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization for the duration of the 2023 season, holding a 6.31 ERA over 24 starts. He did have a two-year run with the Tigers from 2021-22 when he posted a 2.93 ERA, although that came with a 90:62 K:BB over 132 innings. It's not clear whether the Pirates plan to utilize Peralta as rotation or bullpen depth, but he's unlikely to be much of a factor either way. |
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Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman Latches on with Pirates
Mon, Jan 22, 2024, 6:15 PM
Chapman signed a contract with Pittsburgh on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Chapman is headed to his fourth team in the last three seasons, as he made 43 appearances for the Yankees in 2022 and then began the 2023 campaign in Kansas City before finishing out the year in Texas. Following a 30-save season in 2021 with the Yankees, the fireballer has struggled to hold down a closer's role, securing 15 total saves over the last two years. David Bednar will undoubtedly remain the closer in Pittsburgh after putting together the best season of his young career in 2023, but Chapman will likely be in line for high-leverage opportunities and the occasional save chance in 2024. |
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Mitch Keller Mitch Keller Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:35 PM
Keller signed a one-year, $5.4425 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Keller got off to a hot start last season, but he posted a 5.59 ERA in 77.1 innings after the All-Star break. Despite his late struggles, Keller remains a viable fantasy option after racking up 210 strikeouts in 194.1 frames and 13 wins in 2023. |
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