Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Back in action in instructionals
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Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Monday that Cruz (ankle) has resumed participating in instructional games in the Dominican Republic this offseason, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Cruz hasn't yet taken part in any official Dominican Winter League games and may not before the 50-game regular season ends in late December, but the fact that he's taking live at-bats again as well as playing the field suggests that he's made a full recovery from the fractured left ankle he suffered April 9. Assuming the 25-year-old avoids any setbacks in his offseason program while he continues to train in the Dominican Republic, he should report to spring training with no restrictions. Though he essentially lost a season of development at the big-league level while recovering from ankle surgery, Cruz has youth in his favor as he looks to bounce back from the major injury. His impressive bat speed and sprint speed has been matched by few players during his time in the majors and should translate to some solid power and stolen-base numbers in 2024 even while he shakes off some rust, but Cruz's lengthy absence didn't do anything to quell the concerns about his plate discipline that existed even before he fractured his ankle.
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Pirates' Ali Sanchez: Inks one-year deal with Pittsburgh
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Sanchez signed a one-year contract with the Pirates on Friday.
Sanchez hasn't played in a major-league game since 2021, but he posted a strong .311/.375/.492 slash line over 267 plate appearances with the Triple-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks in 2023. The 26-year-old could be a backup option at catcher for Pittsburgh in 2024.
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Pirates' Roddery Munoz: Claimed by Pittsburgh
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The Pirates claimed Munoz off waivers from Washington on Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Munoz posted a 5.86 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 66 innings in Triple-A last season. The 23-year-old righty has yet to appear in a major-league game, but a spot on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster will give Munoz the chance to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster -- likely as a multi-inning reliever.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Requires TJ surgery
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Oviedo will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Francys Romero of MLB.com reports.
Oviedo seemingly suffered an elbow injury in the offseason after getting through the 2023 campaign without any reported issues, and he's now in line to miss all of 2024. Oviedo put up a 4.31 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 158 strikeouts across 177.2 innings last season, and his absence will surely be felt by a Pirates pitching staff that finished near the bottom of the National League in ERA (4.60).
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Pirates' Gilberto Celestino: Nabs MiLB deal from Bucs
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Celestino agreed to a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Monday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The deal presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where Celestino could get the chance to compete for a reserve outfield spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old possesses a decent amount of speed and is regarded as a solid defender, but he owns an underwhelming .222/.292/.300 slash line over 409 career MLB plate appearances. He didn't see any action in the majors in 2023, as he opened the season on the Twins' injured list after requiring surgery in March to address a torn UCL in his left thumb and remained in the minors once he was cleared for game action in late May.
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Pirates' Ryan Borucki: Reaches agreement with Pittsburgh
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Borucki signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Pirates on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Borucki gets a well-deserved raise after delivering a 2.45 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 33:4 K:BB over 40.1 innings with Pittsburgh in 2023. He projects to operate in a setup role in 2024.
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Pirates' Tsung-Che Cheng: Gets 40-man spot
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The Pirates selected Cheng to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Cheng got off to a hot start in the first half of the season with High-A Greensboro, slashing .308/.406/.575 across 253 plate appearances. However, his OPS fell to .656 upon being promoted to Double-A Altoona in late June. A spot on the 40-man roster will prevent Cheng from being taken in next month's Rule 5 Draft, and he will likely return to Altoona to begin 2024.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Joins 40-man roster
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The Pirates selected Ashcraft to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Ashcraft spent time at Single-A, High-A and Double-A last season, logging a 2.39 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 63 strikeouts and 10 walks across 52.2 innings between the three levels. While Ashcraft's stats are certainly impressive across the board, the 24-year-old starter has yet to pitch more than 53 innings in a season.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Tommy John surgery possible
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Oviedo is dealing with a right elbow injury which could potentially require Tommy John surgery, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Oviedo didn't battle any known elbow issues during the regular season, so this news comes out of the blue. Mackey notes that while nothing has been decided yet in regards to how the injury will be treated, Tommy John surgery "has been discussed." Oviedo would be sidelined until 2025 if that procedure is ultimately required. The right-hander went through ups and downs with the Pirates in 2023 but had a fairly encouraging season overall in collecting a 4.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 158:83 K:BB over 177.2 innings. It was more than a 60-inning jump from his 2022 workload.
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Pirates' Henry Davis: Will enter spring as catcher
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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Thursday that Davis will enter spring training as a catcher, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Davis made his major-league debut in right field this past year and only logged two total innings behind the plate, but the Pirates will have him continue working defensively at baseball's shallowest position. Endy Rodriguez projects to open the 2024 campaign as Pittsburgh's primary backstop, with Davis likely again playing mostly in the outfield or at DH, but injuries happen and the Bucs don't want to stunt any sort of development angles for their bright young talent.
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Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Expected to be ready for spring
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Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that he expects Cruz (ankle) to be fully healthy by the start of spring training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Cruz fractured his left ankle in the ninth game of the 2023 regular season and was unable to return before the end of the year after encountering multiple minor setbacks. He's in a good place now, though, and could even play some winter ball in the Dominican Republic to make up for lost time. "All of the updates we've gotten over the last couple weeks have been encouraging," Cherington said.
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Pirates' Yerry De Los Santos: Outrighted to Triple-A
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De Los Santos cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
De Los Santos has lost his spot as the Pirates do some 40-man roster maneuvering, but he'll remain in the organization. The 25-year-old holds a career 4.14 ERA and 44:24 K:BB over 50 relief innings at the big-league level.
Pirates' Angel Perdomo: Recently had Tommy John surgery
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Perdomo underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Oct. 6, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
It came as a bit of a surprise when it was announced Thursday that the Pirates placed Perdomo on waivers, but now we know why the move was made. He'll be out until 2025 and should also clear waivers, at which point he can be outrighted.
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Pirates' Angel Perdomo: Placed on waivers
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Perdomo (elbow) was placed on waivers Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Perdomo appeared in 30 games out of the Pirates' bullpen in 2023 and was effective in the role. He maintained a 3.72 ERA and a more impressive 33:11 K:BB across 29 innings. As a result he may be claimed off waivers, but if not, he can elect free agency.
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Pirates' Yerry De Los Santos: Lands on waivers
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De Los Santos (undisclosed) was placed on waivers Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
De Los Santos appeared in 22 games for the Pirates last season and maintained a 4.14 ERA across 24.1innings. He had just an 18:13 K:BB, so his results were fortunate. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he'll have the chance to opt for free agency.
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Pirates' Miguel Andujar: Placed on waivers
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Andujar was placed on waivers Thursday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Andujar spent most of the 2023 season at Triple-A Indianapolis, though he was decent across 90 plate appearances in Pittsburgh with a .776 OPS. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, Andjuar will be able to elect free agency.
