This web page shall be up to date all through the offseason to replicate any Pirates transactions, in addition to harm updates.
Dec. 20: OF Andrew McCutchen returns to Pirates on one-year, $5 million dealPittsburgh re-upped with McCutchen after his 2023 return, which was his first season with the membership since his preliminary run throughout 2009-17. Throughout that point, he turned the seventh Pirate to win an MVP Award (in ‘13) and was a key a part of snapping a 20-year postseason drought, main the Bucs to 3 consecutive berths from ‘13-15.
“I really feel just like the Pirates have been underneath this window of growth and rebuild. … I believe we’re in a spot now the place that is out the window,” McCutchen stated. “There are adjustments and issues that have to be performed. We have to be in a spot the place we are able to win. Growth and rebuild’s out of the window now.”
Dec. 15: OF Edward Olivares acquired from the Royals for Minor League OF Deivis NadalNadal was at Single-A Bradenton on the time of the commerce. The outfield combine is deep on the Pirates’ 40-man roster, however Olivares has an opportunity to interrupt camp with the group. The 27-year-old has performed all three outfield positions, although the overwhelming majority of his reps have come on the corners.
Olivares had a 109 OPS+ over the previous two seasons, and he hasn’t traded that uptick in manufacturing for strikeouts; he struck out solely 100 occasions in 515 at-bats because the starting of 2022. His addition means there shall be a wholesome competitors for the nook outfielder and fourth outfielder spots.
Dec. 15: OF Billy McKinney acquired from Yankees for worldwide bonus pool moneyMcKinney made his MLB debut with New York in 2018 and performed for 5 different groups earlier than returning to the Bronx in 2023, when he hit .227/.320/.406 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 48 video games.
Dec. 5: SS Oneil Cruz (fractured left fibula) enjoying in tutorial league gamesCruz hadn’t performed in video games since struggling his harm within the ninth recreation of final season, however he took the sphere for tutorial league video games within the Dominican Republic. Pirates officers got here out and in to test his progress, and the video games have been videotaped.
“It was most likely the spotlight of each day that I’ve had over the past two weeks,” supervisor Derek Shelton stated. “We have now video of all the pieces he does on the sphere, so simply watching him take floor balls, watching him steal a base in a recreation, watching him have at-bats, that made me smile.”
Each Shelton and normal supervisor Ben Cherington acknowledged Cruz’s absence had a “vital influence” on their season. Although that they had succesful gamers to fill in, nobody might match Cruz’s upside, partially as a result of the Pirates needed to present Cruz each alternative for a breakout season.
“We knew coming into the season what would want to occur in 2023 for us to perhaps exceed expectations and be a a lot better group than persons are saying we’re going to be,” Cherington stated. “A kind of issues would’ve been Oneil, sort of, leveling up and have some form of breakout. We simply didn’t get the possibility to see that occur.”
Dec. 5: LHP Marco Gonzales, money concerns acquired from Atlanta for participant to be named laterPittsburgh added to an space of want by swinging a deal for the veteran left-hander with a view to bolster its rotation. Gonzales, 31, had simply been dealt to the Braves as a part of the Jarred Kelenic commerce on Dec. 3 and has a 65-49 file and a 4.14 ERA over 9 Main League seasons. Learn extra >>
Dec. 5: RHP Johan Oviedo (proper elbow) will want Tommy John surgeryThe Pirates confirmed Oviedo’s offseason elbow harm, an enormous blow to a rotation that was already brief and now has little certainty past Mitch Keller.
“Because the offseason went on, he had this lingering ache,” supervisor Derek Shelton stated. “If you accumulate the variety of innings he did as a starter, there’s going to be some downtime the place you don’t really feel nice. Then that continued, and that’s after we determined that we’re going to need to get this checked out, and that’s after we came upon what the scenario was.”
The 25-year-old right-hander tossed 177 2/3 innings over 32 begins this previous season, going 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA and a 4.49 FIP. He struck out 158 batters for an 8.0 Ok/9 ratio, whereas permitting 8.2 H/9.
Dec. 1: C Ali Sánchez signed to a one-year contract; RHP Roddery Muñoz claimed off waivers from the Nationals; RHP Thomas Hatch cleared outright waivers, releasedSánchez has solely performed seven video games within the Majors throughout 2020-21, however the defensively sound catcher made massive strides on the plate in ’23 at Triple-A Reno, the place the 26-year-old produced a career-best .867 OPS and 11 homers. He ranked third amongst all Pacific Coast League catchers in caught stealing (22) and solely made one error in 460 complete possibilities at catcher.
Muñoz, a 23-year-old, had a 5.42 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 78 innings over 34 appearances (14 begins) throughout 4 Minor League groups final season, together with Triple-A Rochester. Hatch was launched in order that he can pursue an expert alternative in Japan.
Nov. 17: Pirates keep away from arbitration with LHP Ryan Borucki, non-tender RHPs Hunter Stratton and Osvaldo BidoThe Pirates tendered contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible gamers aside from Stratton and Bido, probably ending their tenure within the group. The group additionally parted methods with righty Wil Crowe earlier this week, distancing Pittsburgh from three pitchers who mixed to make 29 appearances for the membership in 2023.
The Pirates struck a cope with Borucki on a contract for the 2024 season that’s value $1.6 million, a supply instructed MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The 29-year previous southpaw emerged as a worthwhile bullpen possibility in his first yr in Pittsburgh, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in 38 appearances.
Nov. 14: RHP Braxton Ashcraft and INF Tsung-Che Cheng added to the 40-man rosterBoth gamers have been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, so that they wanted to be added to the 40-man roster with a view to defend them from being chosen. Ashcraft, the Pirates’ No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has a high-velocity fastball that may hit 97 mph that he enhances with a slider, a curveball and a changeup. He returned from Tommy John surgical procedure in 2023 to a comparatively small in-game workload, however his upside made him at worst a possible bullpen addition for one more membership if chosen within the Rule 5 Draft.
Cheng, the Bucs’ No. 18 prospect, is a speedy infielder who reached Double-A for the primary time in 2023. Although he posted a .251/.304/.352 line with the Curve in 66 video games, Cheng’s skillset lends itself to being a probably good bench or pinch-running asset for a rebuilding group wanting so as to add controllable expertise within the Rule 5 Draft.
SS Oneil Cruz (fractured left fibula)Cruz has began enjoying in tutorial league video games on the Pirates’ Dominican academy. Supervisor Derek Shelton stated on Dec. 4 that video of the video games has been encouraging.
Cruz missed the vast majority of the 2023 season after fracturing his left fibula in a collision with White Sox catcher Seby Zavala on April 10. He had a setback in his rehab in August on account of left foot soreness, however he was again on observe as of the onset of the offseason. (Final up to date: Dec. 5)
RHP Johan Oviedo (Tommy John surgical procedure)The Pirates confirmed Oviedo’s offseason proper elbow harm after the right-hander skilled lingering discomfort after the season, which prompted additional examination. A typical restoration timetable would rule out Oviedo till 2025. (Final up to date: Dec. 5)
RHP JT Brubaker (Tommy John surgical procedure)Brubaker was scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister, the surgeon on file, on Sept. 19. This was to be his ultimate checkup earlier than he begins a plyometric throwing program, a precursor to a proper throwing program.
Brubaker is not sporting a post-operation brace on his proper arm after present process Tommy John surgical procedure on April 12. His projected full return to Main League competitors is 14-16 months following the surgical procedure. (Final up to date: Sept. 13)
RHP Michael Burrows (UCL surgical procedure)No. 9 `prospect Burrows underwent season-ending UCL reconstruction surgical procedure on April 26. He’s anticipated to return to motion in 14 to 16 months. (Final up to date: April 27)
INF Dariel Lopez (proper knee dislocation)Lopez suffered a dislocated proper knee whereas taking part in a club-issued offseason conditioning program and missed your complete 2023 season. (Final up to date: March 16)
