Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Joins Pirates on one-year deal
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Velasquez signed a one-year, $3.15 million deal with the Pirates on Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
The 30-year-old righty stumbled to a 4.78 ERA as a swingman for the White Sox last season. He'll get to call one of the league's best pitchers' parks home in 2023, but the Pirates probably shouldn't expect a much better ERA, as Velasquez hasn't beaten that mark since all the way back in 2016. Those looking for signs of optimism could point to the fact that he managed a career-best 7.8 percent walk rate last season, but he also tied his career low with a 21.6 percent strikeout rate. His odds of securing a starting role may not become clear until the offseason is over, though the Pittsburgh rotation isn't exactly full of established arms.
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Pirates' Jarlin Garcia: Becomes a Pirate
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Garcia signed a one-year deal with the Pirates on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Garcia will make $2.5 million in 2023, with Pittsburgh holding a club option for $3.25 million for 2024, per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. The lefty was designated for assignment by the Giants in November, but that came after a solid season in which he posted a 3.74 ERA. He's unlikely to add significantly to his career total of two saves this season, but he should still be a serviceable member of the Pittsburgh pen.
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Pirates' Lewin Diaz: Bumped off 40-man roster
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The Pirates designated Diaz for assignment Wednesday.
He'll cede his spot on the 40-man roster to another first baseman/designated hitter in Carlos Santana, who finalized a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on Monday. Though a rebuilding Pirates squad looked to be a good spot for the 26-year-old Diaz to potentially play regularly in 2023 and make good on his prospect pedigree, Pittsburgh ultimately won't give him that opportunity. Over multiple stints in the big leagues with the Marlins across each of the three seasons, Diaz produced a .244 wOBA in 343 plate appearances.
Santana has agreed to a one-year, $6.7 million deal with the Pirates, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Santana played for both the Mariners and Royals during the 2022 season, finishing the year with a .202/.316/.276 slash line. The 31-year-old will be a prime candidate to play DH for Pittsburgh due to his plate discipline and power.
Park was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.
Park played in 23 games for the Pirates last season and had a .216/.276/.373 slash line in 60 plate appearances. He was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Lewin Diaz, who was claimed off waivers.
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Pirates' Lewin Diaz: Grabbed by Pirates
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The Pirates claimed Diaz off waivers from the Marlins on Tuesday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
The 26-year-old has landed in a spot where he could have a realistic path to playing time, as his primary competition at first base and designated hitter will be players like Ji-Man Choi (elbow) and Miguel Andujar. Nothing in Diaz's track record thus far suggests he deserves regular playing time at a key offensive position, however. In 112 career major-league games, he's hit .181/.227/.340.
Pirates' Nathan Webb: Inks MiLB deal with Pittsburgh
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Webb agreed to a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Sunday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The Royals recently declined to tender the 25-year-old a contract for 2023, but it didn't take long for him to latch on elsewhere via a minor-league deal. Webb received an invite to big-league spring training but is a longshot to make the Opening Day roster.
The Reds traded Moreta to the Pirates on Friday in exchange for infielder Kevin Newman.
Moreta was on the shuttle between Triple-A and the majors throughout last season, making 35 appearances for the big-league team (one start) and another 28 for Louisville. The 26-year-old right-hander averaged 96 mph with his fastball in the majors last season and can pull the string with the slider and changeup around 85-88 mph.
Andujar agreed to a one-year, $1.525 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Andujar will be looking to revive his career in Pittsburgh after fizzling out with the Yankees. He burst onto the scene and finished as the runner up for AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 (behind Shohei Ohtani), but Andujar went on to post a .581 OPS over the subsequent four seasons. He projects as the Pirates' primary designated hitter at this stage in the offseason.
Pirates' Manny Banuelos: Designated for assignment
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Banuelos was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.
Banuelos appeared in 35 games between the Yankees and Pirates last year and had a 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB across 41 innings. He was acquired by Pittsburgh in July but won't stick on the 40-man roster through the offseason.
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Pirates' Junior Fernandez: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
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Fernandez was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in early September and was called up to the majors for three appearances during the final week of the season. Fernandez had a 2.41 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB across 18.2 innings between Pittsburgh and St. Louis but won't retain his spot on the 40-man roster.
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Pirates' Jeremy Beasley: Loses spot on 40-man roster
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Beasley was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.
Beasley was acquired from Toronto in early August but never saw game action for Pittsburgh. The right-hander had 4.80 ERA and 19:5 K:BB across 15 innings for the Blue Jays.
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Pirates' Tyler Heineman: DFA'd by Pittsburgh
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Heineman was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.
Heineman appeared in 62 games between the Pirates and Blue Jays last season and had a .217/.276/.268 slash line, and he won't stick on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster through the offseason.
