The Pirates are in agreement with reliever Elvis Alvarado on a major league split contract, reports Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (X link). The righty gets a 40-man roster spot with the Bucs, a notable development for a minor league free agent.
Alvarado secures a 40-man spot for the first time in his career. The 6’4″ righty has bounced around in minor league free agency. He has appeared in the Nationals, Mariners, Tigers and Marlins systems. Alvarado spent most of the ’24 campaign in Triple-A with Miami. He had a strong season, working to a 2.79 ERA in 48 1/3 innings. He struck out a third of opponents but walked an untenable 18% of batters faced.
The Bucs are clearly intrigued by Alvarado’s swing-and-miss ability. His command remains a serious work in progress. There’s not a ton of downside for Pittsburgh, which has a handful of open 40-man spots. Alvarado has a full slate of minor league options and will probably begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. The split deal means he’s paid at differing rates for his MLB and minor league work. He’ll very likely be paid around the MLB minimum for whatever time he spends at PNC Park.
Elvis has entered the building…
Beat me to it…
No Blue Christmas for Elvis. Ahahahaha!
Elvis wrote that song while eating a peanut butter and bacon sandwich on the toilet, just days before he died while eating a peanut butter and bacon sandwich while on the toilet.
The circle of life indeed…
Look at Nutting. Tossing that Luxury Tax windfall around.
When he heard he was being signed to mlb deal he said, “Thank ya, Thank ya very much”
Welp, call 2025 a wrap. Pirates end 46 year World Series title drought.
Elvis Alvarado aka Babe Ruth.
Seems like a Stearns signing. High K high BB rate. Throw in the low hit rate and he keeps the ball in the yard, and who cares he gave up 7 BB/ 9 last year?
Hey, 2.79 ERA is a 2.79 ERA. Idc if he’s effectively wild, the most important part is that if he’s effective.
Mets probably didn’t want to use roster spot.
Sits 98, tops out at 101, struck out about a third of opponents, but also walked nearly 18% of batters. Could be an effectively wild guy. Not a bad low-risk/high-reward deal. In Brent Strom we trust.
Or just a wild guy
Or maybe a WILD and CRAZY guy
Teach this kid some control before he kills somebody.
What a great name for a reliever. Despite all the potential Elvi Presley songs to choose from as walk-up music, I might go with Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up.”
Return to sender
To pump up the crowd?
Elvis Araújo clears
$GREEN$ Christmas for Elvis Alvarado !!
El diaablo que nariz!
Anything is a plus over last years mess of a bullpen. They now need to trade for Casas or Naylor at 1B & add an OF
Santana Winker. Bam call it a off-season see ya in Bradenton.
Between it being a trade with a division rival, a higher salary than the Pirates are comfortable paying and the player having a no trade clause I very highly doubt it would happen but I think Seiya Suzuki would be best case scenario to play RF and slot a RH power bat in the middle of the lineup with Reynolds and Cruz. I’d also like to see what a Randall Grichuk/Joc Peterson platoon could do but that’s probably unrealistic too for money and roster flexibility reasons. I wouldn’t have any problems if they signed Winker but I also don’t really trust him to play 125+ games in consecutive seasons and they can’t DH him much if/when Cutch comes back.
I’d been happy with Tauchman. Anything is better than hoping Jack can be fixed. I hope so and think he can but I don’t want to bet on it and risk another year of wasting fantastic rotation.
I think PNC is perfect for Winker. He will do ok enough in Houston Boston as well. Give him a small outfield. If Cutch gets hurt or needs a rest there you go.
Conforto was perfect but come on now. I rule out anyone who cost any real $ and have been right since well a long time. Heck Winker might be too much. Canha is my realistic guy. He can platoon at 1b and be a outfielder when needed. Pillar as 5th. I think old washed up maybe their last year bam Pirates.
It’s the Marlins hat that makes it for me
A Chapman replacement. Lots of strikeouts and lots of walks
This Ben Cherington?
A+
If they can teach this guy some control and that’s all they have to do. Imagine the marketing opportunities. Could buy Cherington Shelton another 5 years.