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.
Thats a strange thing to do.
It’s not a great sign when you can’t get any playing on this team.
Why would a young team trying to rebuild waste a roster spot Dee? It makes ZERO sense.
The same reason they waste a spot for Kevin Newman
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
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
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
Can’t accept the fact that he’s done; there’s a fork in his back.
He’s clearly done but I admire his desire and effort.
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.
Don’t forget the 80 game PED suspension, quite the accomplishment.
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.
What about OJ tho
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.
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.
@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….
Ducky-I presume that you were in the US military..
If so,I thank you for your service.
He keeps his title as active steals leader if he continues to play this season
Cardinals next and he has been in every NL central organization this year!
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.
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.
I agree Ducky. The Phillies are brutalizing the Pirates today.
True but Bucs took first 2.
I think he would have been called up but Castro with 5 Hrs took his job.
Ducky, exactly!
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.
Cardinals calling… almost there…
Maybe he opted out cause another team told him to so they can sign him?
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.
His goal is to refuse assignments from every MLB team.
A worthy goal, I wish nothing but the best in his quest
They could of Traded him and got something back.
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.
Yea I can only assume that comment was meant to be sarcastic.
Dee Strange move by Gordon !!
Nobody wants to get some strange?
Taming strange
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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
KBO time!!
KBO time!!
Wants that pension
It’s time for Dee to select retirement
Punch & Judy hitter that doesn’t exactly walk a ton, you can’t steal 1st base…
Kind of like Billy Hamilton.
He needs to sign with St. Louis to complete the full rotation of NL Central teams
Are there any teams left?
He needs to go back to being Dee Gordon. This Dee Strange-Gordon guy can’t keep a job.
AHHHH that is a strange coincidence… maybe it is indeed related
Time to hangum up Dee?
Cardinals sign him next
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.
Cardinals on line one.
Gordon is the hands down favorite to win the “Mr Change of Scenery 2021” trophy.
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.