Infielder Dee Strange-Gordon has decided to opt out of his minor league deal with the Pirates, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter). The veteran signed with Pittsburgh in early July.
Strange-Gordon is still looking for his first MLB game of the 2021 campaign, which would make it 11 seasons in the Show for the 33-year-old. Since the Mariners declined their club option on Strange-Gordon last fall, he has inked minors contracts around the NL Central, signing with the Reds, Brewers, Cubs, and now the Pirates without getting an opportunity to return to the big leagues.
Though Strange-Gordon had a few strong hitting seasons with the Dodgers and Marlins, the veteran has been best known for his speed, with 333 stolen bases (from 433 attempts) over his career. Strange-Gordon is the active leader in stolen bases, and he swiped 22 bags as recently as the 2019 season. He also offers versatility as an outfielder and middle infielder for any future teams that are looking for veteran depth.
Turks444
Thats a strange thing to do.
KermitJagger
It’s not a great sign when you can’t get any playing on this team.
SodoMojo90
Why would a young team trying to rebuild waste a roster spot Dee? It makes ZERO sense.
SpendNuttinWinNuttin
The same reason they waste a spot for Kevin Newman
Ghost of past pirates
With the influx of young players via the draft and trades. He saw the pirates were not going to give him a chance. Good move for all involved
EliMorganFanClub
He’s signed a minor league deal with every NL Central team in 2021 except the Cardinals, so he should try to sign there lol
brewsingblue82
That’s been my prediction for over a month soon as the Cubs released him, I told a friend I bet anything he was going to the pirates. Sure enough he did. And I told my friend then, early august he’ll get released again and sign with the Cardinals to complete his NL Central tour
dcahen
Can’t accept the fact that he’s done; there’s a fork in his back.
Cosmo2
He’s clearly done but I admire his desire and effort.
hd-electraglide
Me too. 10 year career, 2x All Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, .286 BA. I would imagine a lot of players would be happy with that. Good for him.
chalk73
Don’t forget the 80 game PED suspension, quite the accomplishment.
hiflew
Why do people insist on summing up someone’s life and/or career based on their worst act? Would you like your life defined by the worst thing you ever did? I know I wouldn’t.
ftasports
What about OJ tho
Cosmo2
Right, hiflew, and if that’s the worst thing he’s done he’s really not bad at all… he seems like one of the nicer guys in the sport. I can’t understand why anyone would try to tear him down but some folks are just like that.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Good question, @hiflew.
Perhaps they have lead their lives much differently than the rest of us.
He was pretty much the same age as I was when I was in the Balkans. What I’m willing to share about that is, I would hate to have some things from that time wholly define who I am & have become. Especially out of context.
cpdpoet
@hiflew HOW DARE YOU make me revisit all the sh i tty things I’ve done in my life….after about a hundred, I stopped listing and gave up. I’ve been a baaaaaaad man….
Mendoza Line 215
Ducky-I presume that you were in the US military..
If so,I thank you for your service.
Goku the Knowledgable One
He keeps his title as active steals leader if he continues to play this season
Ully
Cardinals next and he has been in every NL central organization this year!
86mets
If can’t get a call up to the Pirates maybe he should try the Cubs again. They have several opening freed up since Friday. If not, then try Arizona. If you can’t crack the roster of team that’s almost 40 games under .500 then maybe it’s time to call it a career.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I see it the other way.
It’s not like the Pirates are trying to win.
So: see what they have in their young guys & more wins = worse draft position. Makes complete sense to me why he never got called up.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
I agree Ducky. The Phillies are brutalizing the Pirates today.
retire21
True but Bucs took first 2.
panj341
I think he would have been called up but Castro with 5 Hrs took his job.
retire21
Ducky, exactly!
Mendoza Line 215
Ducky-The Pirates are not trying to lose.
They are rightfully giving time to the young players to see what they have.
No MLB tries to lose.Some are just more serious about winning.
The Baseball Fan
Cardinals calling… almost there…
Mlbfan78
Maybe he opted out cause another team told him to so they can sign him?
aragon
he is what an ancient chinese general called a chicken rib. it looks like there is some meat but in close inspection none can be found.
junkmale
His goal is to refuse assignments from every MLB team.
EliMorganFanClub
A worthy goal, I wish nothing but the best in his quest
mgomrjsurf
They could of Traded him and got something back.
leefieux
You just proved with that sentence that you don’t know English OR baseball. I’d stay off of baseball comment boards if I were you.
Cosmo2
Yea I can only assume that comment was meant to be sarcastic.
nentwigs
Dee Strange move by Gordon !!
SupremeZeus
Nobody wants to get some strange?
SodoMojo90
Taming strange
Datashark
I can only see him getting another AAA deal….hitting .248 in AAA ain’t going to spike the interest of any team I feel.
nyy17 2
If Strange-Gordon’s son married Isiah Kiner-Falefa‘s daughter, would she change her last name to Strange-Gordon or would she go with Kiner-Falefa-Strange-Gordon?
alwaysgo4two
If you aren’t able to play for the Pirates, who are picking up guys from just about anywhere, you ain’t playing for no one…. bad english intended.
Rsox
With all the teams he has played for this season and all the injuries that have occurred throught the league I’m somewhat surprised he is yet to spend a minute on a big league roster this season
KermitJagger
Yeah but the Pirates are all about giving the new guys ample opportunity. No need to spend valuable playing time on someone who won’t be around long term.
PiratesFan1981
Yeah, Pirates are trying to weed out some of Huntington’s work. Who to keep and who can set sail somewhere else. I like it
thickiedon
KBO time!!
thickiedon
KBO time!!
geg42
Wants that pension
Ham Fighter
It’s time for Dee to select retirement
Polish Hammer
Punch & Judy hitter that doesn’t exactly walk a ton, you can’t steal 1st base…
UWPSUPERFAN77
Kind of like Billy Hamilton.
PapiElf
He needs to sign with St. Louis to complete the full rotation of NL Central teams
KCJ
Are there any teams left?
hiflew
He needs to go back to being Dee Gordon. This Dee Strange-Gordon guy can’t keep a job.
tstats
AHHHH that is a strange coincidence… maybe it is indeed related
opranger
Time to hangum up Dee?
PiratesFan1981
Cardinals sign him next
jtkuch
The Pirates did just acquire 4 2B-type guys at the deadline, all in the upper minors. Simply no space for a vet looking to rebound.
Oxford Karma
Cardinals on line one.
solaris602
Gordon is the hands down favorite to win the “Mr Change of Scenery 2021” trophy.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Not sure what kind of music he likes but may e he should get in contact with Strange Music and Tech N9ne. Maybe he can find a new career and produce Music. Seems like he just can’t get settled in with any ML.team. seemed like that since the Marlins traded him to Seattle maybe even before that.