The Pirates released Juan Cruz after he cleared waivers and refused an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis, according to the Sports Network (via the Miami Herald). The Pirates had designated the veteran right-hander for assignment earlier in the week.
Though Cruz pitched effectively for Pittsburgh, the Pirates needed fresh arms following Sunday's 19-inning game against the Cardinals. The 33-year-old appeared in 43 games for the Pirates, posting a 2.78 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings. He signed a one-year, $1.25MM contract with the team this past offseason.
He won’t be a free agent long at all.
He pitched effectively in April and May, not so much from June on. Good numbers, but he almost never had an easy inning. Still, he was reputed to be a good teammate and mentor for the youngsters, and I am sure some contender could use his services. I wish him well.
Why wouldn’t they try to outright him and bring him back when rosters expand?
Edit: Of course he could reject the assignment…but that’d be the same as releasing him anyway.
Surprised he cleared waivers.
Paging Ben ‘what we have already is good enough’ Cherington.
He’s not good. Ridiculously high strand rate attributed to his low ERA. WHIP is bad. Constantly in trouble, walks too many. Has really trended down since late May
why not except the demotion and be called up a week from now when rosters expand and pitch some meaningful innings in a playoff race? seems to be a pride thing here
Except?
Juan was not good recently (and before that even) but how can he be gone and Qualls still on the roster?
Juan Cruz is a good pick-up for The bullpen straved SF Giants. Cruz is a set-up guy and could be a good guy to go to besides Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affieldt, and relieve this bullpen.
If it weren’t for Juan Cruz it wouldn’t have been a 19-inning game.
He’s probably a good guy to have if you need to get one out. But he’s not an innings eater or set-up guy. Give him his own inning and he’ll put at least two on while giving you agita as every other count goes full.
That 1.6 WHIP is scary…
The good numbers came in the first 2 months. He has pitched ineffectively since then. Typically 1 inning, 3 hits. Only reason his era looked good was because era is a deceptive statistic, and people who use it to evaluate pitchers are fooled.
He cleared waivers because major league teams arent as easily fooled as fantasy league owners are.