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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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Edward Olivares Edward Olivares Settles at $1.35 million
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:21 PM
Olivares signed a $1.35 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After slashing .263/.317/.452 with 36 RBI across 385 plate appearances last season with Kansas City, Olivares was traded to Pittsburgh in December. The 27-year-old outfielder boasts an .800 OPS against southpaws since 2021 and figures to be a regular part of Pittsburgh's lineup in 2024. |
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Connor Joe Connor Joe Avoids arbitration with Pirates
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:00 PM
The Pirates and Joe avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.125 million contract Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: It's a nice salary bump for Joe, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time. The 31-year-old put up a .760 OPS with 11 homers over 133 games for Pittsburgh last season. He should see semi-regular duty again in 2024. |
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David Bednar David Bednar Avoids arbitration with Pittsburgh
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 12:45 PM
The Pirates and Bednar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.51 million contract Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: It's a sizable, well-earned raise for Bednar in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He's collected 61 saves while posting a 2.25 ERA and 226:56 K:BB over 179.2 innings during his time in Pittsburgh, blossoming into one of the best closers in baseball. |
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JT Brubaker JT Brubaker Avoids arbitration with Pirates
Wed, Jan 10, 2024, 2:26 PM
The Pirates and Brubaker (elbow) avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.275 million contract, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Analysis: Brubaker will receive the same salary that he got in 2023 after missing the entire season following Tommy John surgery. The goal is for Brubaker to make it back sometime around the All-Star break. He holds a career 3.99 ERA and 324:109 K:BB over 315.2 innings over parts of three seasons at the major-league level. |
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Sergio Alcantara Sergio Alcantara Latches on with Pittsburgh
Wed, Jan 10, 2024, 12:42 PM
Alcantara signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Dec. 9.
Analysis: Alcantara, 27, posted a .776 OPS over 98 games between the Cubs' and Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliates. He's slashed just .209/.281/.406 with 12 homers in 192 games across parts of three seasons at the major-league level. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Back with Pirates
Wed, Jan 10, 2024, 12:38 PM
Stratton signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Dec. 8.
Analysis: Stratton was non-tendered by the Pirates back in November but wound up re-signing. The 27-year-old threw 12 relief innings for Pittsburgh in 2023, posting a 2.25 ERA and 10:3 K:BB. |
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Oneil Cruz Oneil Cruz Fully recovered from injury
Sat, Jan 6, 2024, 6:43 PM
Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Saturday that Cruz is fully recovered from left ankle surgery, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Shelton was asked about Cruz during the team's PiratesFest fan event and said the shortstop is "healthy" and "moving around." The 25-year-old wasn't able to make it back before the end of the season after undergoing surgery in early April to repair a fractured left fibula. Cruz did play in some instructional league games in the Dominican Republic, though, and should head into spring training without any restrictions. With a full season of health, Cruz represents a tantalizing fantasy talent. |
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Max Kranick Max Kranick Makes room for Perez
Fri, Jan 5, 2024, 6:13 PM
Kranick was designated for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Kranick missed nearly all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he managed to turn in 16.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis to close the year. He maintained a solid 2.76 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with a 12:6 K:BB, but he'll have to work his way back up the depth chart with a team this spring. The move made room for Martin Perez on the 40-man roster. |
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Michael Plassmeyer Michael Plassmeyer Signs with Pirates
Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 4:56 PM
Plassmeyer signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Friday, Dec. 29.
Analysis: Plassmeyer was lit up during his lone MLB appearance last season, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) to the Mets over the course of 3.2 innings. The left-hander registered a 5.05 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 67.2 frames with the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, and he'll now serve as organizational rotation depth for the Pirates. |
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