The Pirates have announced that they've designated pitcher Ryan Reid and outfielder Jerry Sands for assignment. The two moves make room on their 40-man roster for pitcher Edinson Volquez and shortstop Clint Barmes.
Reid came up through the Rays system before signing with the Pirates as a minor-league free agent prior to the 2013 season. He pitched well in both Triple-A and in a brief stint in the big leagues, posting a 2.73 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 59 1/3 innings the minors, but the Bucs did not make him a September callup. The Pirates acquired Sands from the Red Sox in the Joel Hanrahan / Mark Melancon deal, but he never appeared in the big leagues for the Bucs and posted a disappointing .207/.311/.329 season for Triple-A Indianapolis.
Head scratcher moves all off season.
Sands used to be a top prospect for the Dodgers. surprised to see him just designated for assignment. although 2013 was pretty bad.
Sands is an all or nothing player, but he still has something of a future in the big leagues. The Pirates just have a lot of talent on their 40 man roster right now, so they are having trouble finding a spot for him.
His 2013 was reaaally bad. He’s 26, been stalled at AAA for 3 years. And there are at least 4 guys ahead of him on the RF depth chart (Lambo, Snider, Tabata, Decker).
Would have been nice to keep him, just in case he turns it around, but you gotta make cuts somewhere.
Sands also got into trouble with the team when he climbed into the stands in Toledo to go after some fans who were supposedly throwing stuff at Indianapolis players (Indy is Bucs AAA team and where Sands played in 2013), and he was suspended because of it. Even when the Pirates acquired him, a lot of people were calling him a “Quad A” player, so I am not shocked the Bucs decided to cut bait. As for Reid, he pitched well, but he is 28, and the Bucs have others just as good who are younger.
wow never heard about that incident… yeah would’ve cut him loose too just for that. shame too, I was looking forward to seeing what he had in the spring.
Sands was never really a top prospect for the Dodgers. Highest he got was #6, and that was when the Dodgers farm system was pretty weak (2010). Fans were always higher on him than scouts. Power but not much else.
Yeah i remember Dodger fans crowing that Sands was the next great Dodger. Just shows that until a prospect does it at the big league level it dont mean a thing.
Hopefully the mets can sign sands to a minor league deal and let battle to be a backup OF