Dec. 17: Cabbage will sign with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, reports Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Dec. 16: The Pirates released first baseman/outfielder Trey Cabbage, as first reflected on the MLB.com transaction log. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports that Cabbage will pursue an opportunity in a foreign league. That opens a spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster, which drops to 37.
Pittsburgh claimed Cabbage off waivers from the Astros last month. Houston had attempted to outright him off their roster at the beginning of the offseason. Cabbage could’ve battled for a spot in Spring Training with the Bucs, but there was no guarantee he’d have stuck on the roster all winter. Even if he’d held the 40-man spot, Cabbage has an option remaining and might’ve spent most of next year in Triple-A.
It seems his camp is finalizing a deal with a team in another league that’d presumably come with a better payday. Cabbage has an intriguing power-speed combination. He had a 30-30 showing with a .306/.379/.596 slash in Triple-A with the Angels in 2023. His minor league production wasn’t quite as strong this year (.243/.351/.474) but he made a career-high 45 MLB appearances with the Astros. MLB pitching has exploited Cabbage’s propensity for huge strikeout totals in the upper minors, fanning him at a near-41% clip. He’s a career .209/.245/.331 hitter in 147 big league plate appearances.
TrillionaireTeamOperator
Something something cabbage pun something something zing.
Stone Seal
He’s off to make some Kimchi!
TommyHawkBraves
I slaw what you did there.
KnicksFanCavsFan
LET US pray for him to sign a deal soon.
imissjoebuzas
Signing a deal overseas to play for 2,032,000 Zloty in Poland with the name “Kapusta” on his jersey.
Fever Pitch Guy
Stone – Texas expressed some interest, but didn’t sign him because Rangers legend Jim Kern had a beef with Cabbage.
Damn Yankee$
I heard Larry Lettuce is available.
Candlestoked
Hope he HEADS somewhere cool.
Angels2WS
A whiff rate of 41% reeks of Cabbage.
letitbelowenstein
Lefty Dalbec.
Damn Yankee$
I’ll bet Pirates fans are stewing over the loss of Cabbage.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Add Cabbage to the patch of prospects
nukeg
Heard Trey lost his luggage on his way to Japan. The airport staff said hopefully it will turnip.
MrMainStreet
The big Pirates moves just keep on coming
TheMan 3
yes this opens up a roster spot for the next Cherington dumpster dive from the waiver wire
I have no doubt it will be some kind of low cost loser who no one has ever heard of
Braves_saints_celts
Low cost loser? At the end of the day making it to the majors is no small feat, and also that low cost loser still probably makes more money than you, so who is the real loser here?
MrMainStreet
He’s a Pirates fan. Like me. Since the ‘60’s. So yeah, we *are* the losers when it comes to fandom of a franchise with pathetic ownership
As for your intended rip, what is it? You dating someone trying to make it into the majors?
Braves_saints_celts
Just because your team’s ownership likes to field a losing team doesn’t make the players who make millions of dollars losers. Not every player can be a star, and if the pirates don’t go after the stars but more so the role players how is that the players fault? They aren’t the losers in the situation the ownership and fans are the losers! I wasn’t “ripping” anyone I was calling out an absurd remark. You on the other hand think you’re something special though don’t you? Asking if I’m dating a potential mlb player huh? I’m happily married of 9 years with 6 kids. Keep your Aly remarks to yourself. Mad at me for saying something when you should be mad at the pirates ownership group gtfoh
MrMainStreet
First off, I *am* something special
Secondly, your opinion, your life story, your assertion of what is “absurd” mean nothing to me
Thirdly, and as such, I don’t find myself getting “mad” at vapid, inane remarks
Most importantly, I don’t get angry or agitated about billionaire owners or millionaire players who I am sure are doing God’s work in your logic
For the record, the term “loser” is a figure of speech that goes back eons. It doesn’t denote the character of the wonderful men who play the game and have your undying adoration. And knowing TheMan3 as I do and his background, I am sure such an aspersion would be met with a laugh
Grow up, pal
TheMan 3
if you don’t like my comments because they are “ absurd “ use your mute button.because I am unlikely to change my opinion
The players that will be signed from the dumpster are losers
Braves_saints_celts
I don’t mute people we should agree and disagree I disagree with you, oh well
Braves_saints_celts
Don’t care about my life story but go on to say how you know this person in your life, so guess who doesn’t care about you, the people you know, or your life story, that would be me. Oh well.
TheMan 3
blah blah blah
you sound like the guy just elected to President
Many words that make no sense
TheMan 3
I hope that you make enough money to feed 6 children, there’s enough free loaders in this country, since it was so important for you to share your personal life with everyone.
HalosHeavenJJ
Good for Trey. Super great guy.
King123
Lettuce all wish him a successful time oversees.
BlueSkies_LA
Arugula guy.
ronnsnow
I was really hoping he’d romaine with the Pirates.
Niekro floater
Released em so he can go make some cabbage.
RunDMC
We’ve had some action on Matt Sauer and Trey Cabbage. Now we just need Domingo German transaction for some truly delicious hot dog condiment fun today.
rct
Caleb Wurster is kicking around in the Marlins system.
highflyballintorightfield
Don’t forget Landon Knackwurst of the Dodgers.
CALgoldenBears
Lettuce find a team that mixes well with his skillset
panj341
Pittsburgh the last stop before you head overseas.
Astros_fan_in_Aus
That sentence makes absolutely no sense.
WillieS
Ben is a joke!!!
Goku the Knowledgable One
For this?
If they sign Kepler and Kittredge I’ll be extatic
Horwitz trade was great
MrMainStreet
Horwitz will either be a trivia question or on the Orient Express in a year or so, which is where many of the Cherington brigade usually go
highflyballintorightfield
To the contrary…I think this was a good move by the Pirates top brass-ica.
TheMan 3
you mean like the DLC trade was?
Cherington is a horrible purveyor of position player offensive talent.
Between his draft picks and trades it’s hard to determine which one is worse
MrMainStreet
The worst off season in decades. Are they trying to tank already?
Candlestoked
If I still went to school, his story would make one helluva Afterschool Special!
CCooper8920
Oh no my Cabbages!!
Armaments216
He’s leaving Omashu for Yomiuri.
GO1962
When cabbage begins to spoil, it needs to be thrown out.
Goku the Knowledgable One
Not if it’s jarred and turned into kraut (I don’t actually know the process)
dasit
darn i was hoping he would romaine in pittsburgh
SoCalBrave
you’re Kale-ing me smalls
tikiagedola
I’d rather have the overrated HOFerr former pittsburgh OF play than the current pirates of
TheMan 3
You have made it perfectly clear that you are against Parker’s induction into the HOF
guess what?
Too bad you can’t see the forest from the trees or else you’d just accept it
You’re like a broken record
PiratesFan1981
I hate writers with poor writing skills and all over the place like this writer. They start with one topic, throw in a 2 liner on another topic. While finishing with the previous topic. As a reader, I am thinking, “Did a 13 year old Junior High schooler write this?”
tikiagedola
You sound jealous
MrMainStreet
No. “Jealous” describes your hard-on for Dave Parker, given your continued rants. Or is it obsession?
quonset point
I hate posts criticizing poor writing skills when their contribution contains sentence fragments, improper punctuation, and generic clichés.
Jbigz12
Always blows my mind when someone criticizes poor writing skills with improper grammar.
You need to have that buttoned up before coming at someone else.
Troutahni
Trey has a propensity to overeat on long road trips resulting in stagnation and extended stomach cramps. This has been detrimental to his road splits throughout his career.
PLaying baseball overseas could really cause Trey to hit poorly because of the extended time frame of his absence. If he doesn’t police his eating habits he could end up returning to the US as a Stuffed Cabbage.
آلي مكبيل_.._.بيتزا بيبيروني آشتون كوتشر
Sad. He was probably one of their best options for RF.
longines64
Just needs to be teamed with Korn and Bief.
Fred Saskamoose
Cabbage is going to roll!
Stallionduck
Probably going to the NPB since it’s unlikely that the NC Dinos in the KBO who hasn’t filled their foreign player limit yet is to sign a second hitter for their team
MrMainStreet
On one hand, I’m impressed with your knowledge of these foreign leagues
On the other, it says a great deal about the Pirates that a player sees holes at 1st base and RF where he can fill and *still* opts to play in Asia
Guess the allure of pierogi races and fireworks nights at the nicest ballpark in America just wasn’t enough
TheMan 3
don’t forget the Pierogi races
That alone is worth spending your hard earned money on
MrMainStreet
Yeah, I was looking through the want ads recently and saw they were advertising to be one of the pierogi racers for ‘25. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re also replacing someone who opted for Asia, too.
El Kabong
What’s wrong with playing in Asia?
MrMainStreet
It’s not MLB. How about that?
Wasn’t deriding Asia. Sheesh. Sensitive much
Stallionduck
Eh, the Pirates are probably going to use Spencer Horwitz at 1B full time so RF is the only hole. Cabbage is pretty much waiver wire fodder here so he went for more $ and guaranteed playing time. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were going to sign someone like Austin Hays, Max Kepler, Jason Heyward, Alex Verdugo to play outfield. Plus it’s pretty much a given that Andrew McCutchen is going to re-sign unless he decides to retire.
TheMan 3
if an outfielder costs more than a few million, they will use Jack, Palacios or some other player who makes the major league minimum
YourDreamGM
Paul are you alive? You excited about this 2025 team? Join us at bottom of article.
whyhayzee
Kind of hoping the Orioles would get him.
swanhenge
When two cabbages aren’t enough
RussianFemboy
lol, its just a comment section filled with cabbage jokes XD
Dumpster Divin Theo
Wonder what type of dance he’s doing to celebrate his new found freedom. The running man? The robot?
Jimmy Garbagebag
Let’s just say my “burger” is in the “toaster” lmao, i am divorced
chrisjaybecker
He’s not just A cabbage, he’s Trey (three) cabbages.
MrMainStreet
Has anyone seen Goku lately…or at least since the Phillies signed Kepler? May need to talk him down off the 12th floor ledge
Anyone seen or heard from the few Nutting apologists on board here lately? Can they name a worse, more cheap off season? Disclaimer—nothing personal towards Nutting, but he’s nothing but a greed obsessed carpetbagger.
How ridiculous is it that the biggest Pirates news this off season is that their plaza next to PNC will be open in time for the season with a stage area, restaurants, etc.
More profits for the carpetbagger
YourDreamGM
Pirates got their cabbage and just going to sit out until new year. Maybe try to trade Jones Keller on Christmas day like Bell.
YourDreamGM
I still like Winker for rf. His range is awful and defense kinda weak so most teams won’t want him in outfield so maybe cheaper.
Grichuk is perfect weak platoon. Like he’s Juan Soto vs LHP. Canha a even older, cheaper, lesser version and can play 1b as well.
Pillar is perfect for LF when Reynolds weak platoon at 1b.
Those are all ideal “cheap” options.
Fantasy splurge option if market isn’t there Profar.
MrMainStreet
Dream, you’re playing MLBTR’s game, albeit more logically. That is, you’re plugging in guys that make sense but who either have no intention on signing in baseball Siberia or more likely, are not even being discussed by the Nutting front office
Yeah. Cheap. And still, too expensive for their carpetbagging owner
YourDreamGM
These are realistic guys. Some of them will take any mlb job. Big boys won’t be in on them.
YourDreamGM
Current roster if they do nothing.
LF Reynolds
CF Cruz
RF Suwinski Palacios Rodriguez
3b Triolo Hayes
SS IKF Peguero
2b Gonzales Yorke
1B Horowitz Reynolds
C Rodriguez Bart
DH Cutch Bart
I think Endy will be the better defender and they will rest Cutch more.
I think Cruz will not only be passable but a plus defender in CF. I think if they made the transition sooner that he could contend for gold gloves.
Team really needs a few outfielders. I think Jack could bounce back. Don’t want to bet on it though.
MrMainStreet
And if this is the lineup, 69-72 wins. Tops
You mention Jack and I’m somewhat astounded. To me, they have a better shot at resurrecting Davis
With no one to plug into LF, you don’t take a moderate strength and turn it into two weaknesses by moving Reynolds to 1st
You may be right about Cruz, if he can get out of his own way.
But there is so much deadwood here. Oy
YourDreamGM
They won what 76 last year so they can at least do that again. The played parts of season without bart Gonzales Rodriguez.
Davis can’t even play rf at pnc. Wasn’t a natural. Pirates couldn’t teach him. Unless he is getting non Pirates instruction as we speak I don’t have reason to believe he can. Zero faith in pirates coaching.
I hope this season is train wreck. Want Cherington fired. Need someone to find someone to develop Griffin.
Don’t like having a desperate gm trying to keep job. Don’t trust Williams Nutting to keep him in check.
Worst thing to happen will be them winning mid 80s games and it keeps Cherington around. I’m rooting for a awful season. I dunno if it happens though.
Cherington is a fine enough gm other than not developing players. That’s the only thing that really matters.
MrMainStreet
As is, they won’t touch 76 this year
I temper my criticism of Cherington because to me at least, he has parameters to work within financially. Agree with you about player development, of course, but I can’t be a critic if I don’t know the landscape. I have to assume he has limitations.
As for Williams and the gang, you’ve said it yourself. It takes money to draw the most talented in, even in the front office. How many true baseball people would want to work for this clown?
YourDreamGM
I don’t know why you expect fewer wins with a slightly better team. Pretty much the same team with a better 1b than Rowdy and full year of Skenes Bart Gonzales. Cruz not making errors at ss.
Cherington can take this team to playoffs. I’d just rather try a new gm. Young and cheap. Creative thinker. Kinda like NH but better. NH was one of the first to get on a trend. The catching framing. Pitching low in the zone. Shifts. It was noticable that the Pirates were doing things most other teams didn’t. Can’t say that now. Well other than having a catcher who can’t throw out runners or a fat slob at 1b.
MrMainStreet
Like Goku, you have a lot of hopes and ifs
Too many
From Hayes’ health and attitude, to Nick and Bart duplicating last season….
Well, it’s endless.
I hope you’re right
The realist in me says they regress this season
YourDreamGM
Bart should regress. Lucky last year. Gonzales can repeat. I project no bat all glove at 3b with or without Hayes so he isn’t a factor. If he is somehow healthy and hitting they are likely above 500. I pretty much expect similar as last year. 72 to 87 wins would be my 15 range of outcomes. If they get some relievers and outfielders we can go to 10 range 77 to 87.
MrMainStreet
You know, Dream, if starters went 7+ like in the olden days, I’d agree with all of this. But 5 innings makes starting pitching a less dominating stat. Nice to have a good starting staff but really, you now need all facets of an entire pitching staff
How many quality starts did they lose for Skenes, Keller and Ortiz last year?
I said it last year and it’s even more pertinent this coming season. As is, where will the runs come from?
Reynolds and Cruz can be managed because really, there are no other threats in the lineup. If I’m an opposing pitching coach, I am advising to not let Reynolds beat you. Cruz hits a lot of homers and had a respectable average but a good pitcher will own him
So what do you have after these guys?
Nick. Bart. Cutch. Sheesh