The Pirates have signed right-handers Tanner Rainey and Hunter Stratton to minors deals, as respectively reported by Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton (X link) and Stratton’s MLB.com profile page. Rainey’s contract contains an invitation to the Pirates’ big league spring camp, and it can be assumed that Stratton’s deal also has an invite, though Stratton’s uncertain health situation in the wake of knee surgery could limit his participation in Spring Training.
Rainey heads to Pittsburgh after a topsy-turvy six-year run with the Nationals, highlighted by a World Series ring in his first year with the club. Rainey delivered a 3.91 ERA and 34.6% strikeout rate in 48 1/3 relief innings for that 2019 championship team, but also had an ugly 17.8% walk rate. These control issues plagued Rainey for most of his time in Washington, and he also missed virtually all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
After Rainey posted a 4.76 ERA, 19% strikeout rate, and 12.6% walk rate over 51 innings in 2024, the Nationals unsurprisingly decided to non-tender the righty, even though Rainey was projected for a modest $1.9MM arbitration salary. Now entering his age-32 season, Rainey will look to rebuild himself in the Bucs’ spring camp, and hopefully regain some of the form and velocity that made him a valuable bullpen asset for the Nats in 2020 and 2022.
Stratton was also non-tendered by the Pirates in November, but there was an expectation that Pittsburgh would (just as they did last offseason) re-sign the righty to a new minor league deal. Stratton has an impressive 3.26 ERA and 4.9% walk rate across 49 2/3 career Major League innings, all with Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. Despite a lack of big strikeout totals, Stratton’s ability to induce soft contact has made him an interesting relief option out of the Pirates’ bullpen.
Unfortunately for Stratton, his 2024 season was cut short by a flukish injury on August 24 that left him with a ruptured patellar tendon. Stratton was behind home plate at PNC Park and pursuing a loose ball when he stumbled into the stone wall, causing the injury and putting his career on hold for an estimated 7-10 months. This fluid timeline means that Stratton would return anywhere from Opening Day to late June, but the minor league contract gives him plenty of time to fully get himself right during Spring Training or in the Pirates’ farm system.
And there it is! The big splash Pirates fans were waiting for!
This is actually how you rebuild a pen tho
Have an open competition and not clog it up with a washed up Chapman
yeah but we still need a first baseman and I don’t see how either one these two guys can field first and drive in runs
Ben needs to improve the offense
And a right fielder. They have a number of guys who have either under-achieved here or who represent a numbers problem at a position.
Endy. Bart. Davis. Grandpal (is he still here)
and even Suwinski
Have to wonder if the master plan isn’t to morph a couple of these guys into open slots. Why would that be no surprise ?
I think they platoon Henry and Suwinski in RF unless they trade Davis.
Either way I think they have Jack penciled in as the 4th OF, prob platoon with Palacios.
If they get a legit bat at 1B it solves a lot, giving them a heart of the order beteen Cruz and Reynolds.
yeah Jack’s.171 average and 150+ strikeouts will drive in a lot of runs
Seems like when they hired Hague, they also started throwing around the names of Suwinski and Davis as targets of hitting resurrection
But unless Hague is some miracle worker, it’s just the admission that yes, what you see here is what you’re gonna get.
Again, Nutting and his people will continue to pound this small market/little money myth forever, even as other comparable cities have teams and owners that blow a hole in that logic. And even as sports pundits here have taken issue with it
You do realize Jack was only 25 years old and had 2 very promising seasons before last year
Definitely pretty similar player to Joc Pederson overall tho. Actually almost a clone
Glass half empty: Suwinski and Davis were both awful last year and don’t deserve to be in the lineup. We should give up on them
Glass half full: jack and Hank are 2 of the more notable 25 year olds in the bigs platooning in RF, and both still have enormous potential , and we’re talking about the number 8 spot in the lineup
First off, I don’t know that “ give up on them” is the proper term. Perhaps, not count on them
Secondly, your glass content analogy applies to Jack’s “good” seasons here, too. Lots of home runs. Ridiculous amount of strikeouts. Not many runs driven in aside from the homers
Yes, appreciably worse last season
I tend to think management wrecked both of these kids
Both Jack and Davis were sent to Indy
and while Davis’ offense improved, Jack’s didn’t so just maybe what is wrong with him is in his head and I doubt that team development will improve his performance
Lefty bat off the bench with some power who can field all 3 OF spots. Suwinski not the worst option for that.
Ideally Davis breaks out and handles most of the duties in RF , but I don’t see it as a massive hole like 1B , since they have a couple young options there including Palacios, Davis and Jack
a team that is trying to be competitive, yes having Jack on the major league roster isn’t probably a good idea
He’s taking a roster spot for someone more deserving
they need a corner outfielder with power potential None of them fits the bill
Have you seen the roster Paul? There’s like 3 or 4 open spots as is. Another 6 8 10 guys who could easily be kicked off if you had a gm actively trying to get better. Nothing. Absolutely nothing in the minors ready. Jack Davis can stick around for awhile.
I have to believe this is the plan
I get that “the rebuild is over”
How many rebuilds go perfectly? When it doesn’t and tweaks need to be made, the best teams tend to augment what works. It seems the Pirates put all their eggs into the rebuild and are going to keep trotting out guys who just haven’t shown much
Again, you can’t get blood from a stone
But it’s the most economic way to proceed. The money flows in and we look forward to the next rebuild after Skenes leaves
I agree fully.
Which is why I think Jack/Henry is their solution for RF
I read in today’s Trib that Reynolds will be used at first base next year
if neither can hit with any consistency they might as well sign me
I can’t hit either and would be cheaper
you’re right, Dream, they can stick around and by the time Ben realizes that he’s made a mistake by keeping them it’s too late to make changes and the season is over
Davis was given really little opportunity last year
I think Davis was ruined in ‘23 and then as if to add insult to injury, was lied to at the start of ‘24
The off season had the GM telling us he was getting a shot at catcher, then the revelation that he was making solid progress and then watched as the team brought in not one but three catchers
As far as not being given a shot, I think all these head games were evident in how he played behind the plate and how he hit this past year
Truth is, he often looked lost at bat or as if he was clueless about just where the inside corner was.
I honestly don’t think Suwinski or Davis will ever be good players here. I’m inclined to think they have more confidence in some Yorke/Cook arrangement
I agree with most of that, but the biggest issue has been Cutch clogging the DH spot from Davis getting regular playing time
And I’m not gonna change my longterm evaluation of Davis just because of 2 mismanaged seasons. Still see him as a .279 15-25 HR guy sooner or later
I highly doubt that even over the course of an entire season, Davis could have hit 20 homers and had even half as good of a season as the 37 year old DH
Davis, as someone else pointed out looked lost at the plate last year
This goku guy kid. First Davis can start in rf now cutch is blocking him at dh! If the bat doesn’t play at catcher it won’t play in rf and if it doesn’t play in rf it won’t play at dh. Only reason cutch is at dh is because he can’t play a position any longer. If davis is this amazing athlete he can find a position. He has 20 hrs in him if he ever hits the ball enough to get them.
And yet, they have a real conundrum here. No 1st baseman. No right fielder. Two catchers who may be able to hit in Endy and Bart. (And again, is Grandpal still here? If so, he makes three after a good finish)
I don’t know how much Davis and Suwinski are in the mix, but is this the pool of guys they’re seriously going to consider for C-RF-1B slots?
Endy looks to be at least average probably above catcher. Should have enough bat to play. Bart weak defense but bat makes him solid option.
Grandpal is free agent. I think it’s time for retirement. Can still hit, handle a staff, frame. But can’t throw out runners. So bad at throwing out runners I think he is toast. If he had a arm he would be our #1 catcher heading into 2025.
Who knows what these clowns do. I’d sign Goldy Santana or even Bell. Winker and 1 of Pillar Canha. Maybe all 3. Would have signed Tauchman. Look at his stats. Sox got him for 2 to 3 million.
No, Grandal is not coming back under any circumstance
Endy is the future with his excellent defense. Would you have given up on Yadier Molina after he batted .216 early in his career?
Bart is decent stop gap, who actually has a lot of potential at the plate
What you guys think about this. When they fire Cherington and Shelton. Hire Grandpal as manager? Team built around young pitching. No one knows the young pitching better than him. Knows catchers. Knows 1b. Knows hitting. Knows game prep.
You know, they can’t do worse than what they have now. You’d just hope he doesn’t want to be Uncle Yazzy to the team. I’d believe most young teams need a guy who’d crack the whip every so often and demand both hustle and professionalism
Time to walk the plank, mateys.
Tanner Rainey replaces Aroldis Chapman as the only WS winner on the roster, unless I am missing someone.
Michael Taylor won one with the nats. He’s gone as well.
Taylor had one at bat in that World Series but made good use of it, hitting a home run.
I feel like he hit the same amount over a full season with the Pirates lol
They should trade Bednar.
they probably wouldn’t get much in return for Bednar considering the season he had last year
I’m going to predict that Bednar will be ok, although I agree with you
Unlike hitters who have underperformed and are mechanical nightmares, Bednar kept his velocity throughout. That’s a positive
He *did* get some outs—this wasn’t a Rick Ankiel story
To me, he needs to regain his off speed/spin pitch feel and having an entire spring will help
And now not a single member of the 2019 Nationals remains on the team, right? No way they’re bringing Corbin back.
Yeah, now that Chapman has left and with him, his propensity to string together walks, it’s good they’re bringing in a guy who can take up the torch. This is Pirates off-season “aggressiveness” at its finest.
I’m looking forward to Nutting’s annual “losing is not acceptable speech” in a couple months
Glad they brought Stratton back. That was a brutal injury.
I was at the game. Had a 1st row second level view. “Brutal” is about the best word to describe it. Glad he’s coming back, though…
I was there as well, slamming into a split-face concrete wall is brutal. He’ll probably never be more than a depth piece, but has been a serviceable reliever for a couple of seasons now. Anything that keeps us from seeing Ben Heller pitch again…
Bringing Stratton back is great.
Rainey looks like hes got good potential but is a throw at the wall signing.
Glad Stratton is coming back. If not for a sad freak injury he would have been on the roster regardless
With that said, the Buccos really need to make their mold and get some proven good bats now. Predict they trade for one and sign one
I hear Rowdy is available
Goku mentioned Bell or Santana on another thread. To me, this will be the kind of target they have in mind moving forward. It’s almost funny.
You know, the NL Central will be wide open next year barring some game changing trades or signings from other division teams. All the Pirates need is a strong bat or two to augment their starting pitching
But they’ll go cheap. It’s their DNA
day 2 of the winter meetings and there’s not even a rumor of a trade by Ben
He will probably wait until the dumpster fires start to sign a player
Slow day yesterday and today for most teams. He needs to do something because nobody is trying to win the central
Yes, again, MLBTR constantly uses the byline ______interested in_____
So given that idea, are the Pirates interested in anyone? Anyone at all?
Just watched BC on MLB coverage and as usual said a lot of nothing
These agents would like nothing more than their client to get a headline. If the Pirates called and the agent laughed at their low ball offer it would get reported. I mean who doesn’t like fre3 advertising and these players are products. Trades will have tighter lips but few people can keep secrets. Still nothing. It’s beneficial for teams to have relationships with reporters. Throw them a lil tid bit so they can do propaganda for you in the future. But nothing from Pirates.
Double A+ or A++
Not sure why I check in here daily. Think the major league roster is mostly set. They will probably try out Triolo (the Gold Glover) at first with Gonzalez, Kiner-Falefa, Hayes, and Bart to round out the infield. Reynolds and Cruz and throw a dart for right field – Palacios, Yorke, Davis, Cabbage, Cook (who knows). This is your 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates. Get used to it. Think being a Pirates fan is bad for my health.
Don’t forget Suwinski, lol. I’d be curious about Bart playing 1st since Endy is the best defensive catcher
Triolo shouldn’t play 1b. Glove too good to waste and not nearly enough bat. Bart I would use as a backup. Backup catcher backup 1b if he can play it or backup dh. His bat is light for 1b so unless he can really master that position. His defense is weak at catcher. Maybe new coaches can help with something.
I think they should sign 1 outfielder and a 1b and 2 relievers.
I do like their depth though. Just don’t want depth starting.
I agree with your post.Santana may be the best fit at first base with Bart as the backup.
I do not know if they will resign Cutch unless they trade Davis or Suwinski for reliever/s.
Triolo takes the place of SRod from several years ago.
They also have Ashcraft and Solemeto to dangle for a strong outfielder.
Although the batting coach does not necessarily mean a whole lot unless he is excellent I think that BC/Haines penchant for taking pitches was a bad philosophy and hopefully the change to Hague can be a plus simply by negating that stupidity.
Losing Chapman is a loss as Bednar is no guarantee but with Mineta back and hopefully healthy and the youngsters getting experience the addition of a couple good veterans to the bullpen would be a big plus.
I hope that Stratton comes back physically strong as he could be a strong member also.
Cutch should be back. No reason to think he won’t. Davis Suwinski don’t factor in with that decision. They are more likely to be dfa than hit good enough to be dh. I doubt either will ever be as good as Cutch. And I ain’t talking 2014 Cutch I am talking old bout ready to be put out to pasture 2024 Cutch.
Depends on the team. I’d say most teams see Solometo as a back end starter or lefty specialist reliever even for some. Ashcraft has interesting arm and more value imo but reliever risk. But if he can’t make it as starter he can be a backend reliever. That’s fine though because what high value outfielder is being traded? I haven’t heard of any. So those guys could get it done. Burrows. Lefty from Florida can’t recall his name right now. Harrington could get you a real player if one was being traded. TJ could get you just about anything. Bubba could get you anyone. I would say Griffin but 8 teams passed on him.
They’ve been very hesitant to trade their top kids to this point. You’d hope that they’ll quickly know who their starting staff is and who the next two are that will be at Indy. Maybe then they can shed a young arm or two.
I followed the minors a bit more closely last season than previously but am somewhat amazed that there really isn’t much help on the immediate horizon. I’m still not sold on Termarr. Maybe he’ll be a Joe Morgan type. Who knows?
I understand optimism but when it’s predicated on so many hopes and “if’s” it becomes akin to being optimistic about winning in Vegas.
Nutting said that as long as Cutch wants to play he has a spot on this team
Paul-That may be true but why haven’t they signed him by now then?
They have several open spots on the roster and a couple of placeholders otherwise.
The simplest spot for Davis to play is at DH and that would maximize the chance to see if he can be a decent hitter if they give him a real chance.
If they are going to stay old I would backtrack and sign Santana who seems like he was more of a team leader than Cutch has been.
If they want to tread water then sign Cutch again.He had a good year but will fall off the cliff at a certain point and it could get ugly.
I would rather forget about Suwinski’s .151 batting average and 5 homers, thankfully
People forget, Endy played first base in the minors
He played 2nd and OF as well, but he’s best used behind the plate.
He also played second base.
He will never hit nearly enough to be a first baseman.
They need to hope that Endy can catch as well as he did in 2023 and can physically meet a fairly demanding schedule of say 2/3 of the games.Any hitting over 240 will be a bonus
Cut off Davis arm and put it on Grandpal and that would be our best catching option.
not when you have Bart
Bart would be better if taught first base and also serve as a backup catcher and occasional DH.
They have to find out about Suwinski and Davis unless they can get decent players in trades for them.
Yeah, remember when the season ended and MLBTR speculated on possible Pirates free agent targets? Conforto? O’Neill? How did that end up?
Some national blow hard talked about Christian Walker signing here?
Where do these people get their ideas?
Why would ownership here change its method of operations here when “it’s going so well?”
Same every year lol. Hoskins Bellinger lol. I’d be thrilled with Santana Winker. Thats as high as my expectations go. Won’t be shocked if Connor Joe is back at this point. Hopefully they don’t make a bad trade.
I laugh because people keep mentioning guys like Davis and Suwinski as trade candidates. Uh, you mean there is a market for these guys?
you mean like trading for De la Cruz?
Davis hit very well in college and in AAA.Suwinski hit well for two years in the MLs,and would have done even better if he had been platooned.They played with Henry’s head too much in switching his positions.
And BC and Andy Haines were the hitting gurus.
Other teams can see these two young guys as diamonds in the rough,especially if they were managed properly,which the Pirates have not done.
I think that there is a market but the Pirates would be selling low
Both Hoskins and Bellinger are wayyyy over priced.They are both someone else’s problems.
They need to move on from Connor Joe,although he performed better that I had expected.
They can be traded maybe. I would think for young far away lotto tickets. For good mlb player I doubt it. Who knows with these gms. Remember not a single team claimed tim hill and the Pirates were the only team willing to trade for Bart. Pirates pretty much depend on these other gms being stupid in order to participate in free agency. No one wanted Anderson Quintana Perez and they all get paid much more the next year. No one wanted Santana last year including the Pirates he should get more. You don’t know what these idiots are going to do.
Despite my grandeur ideas on how to actually, prncil in my real prediction as still just Bell or Santana, maybe Goldschmidt
either of those players would be an upgrade from last season but signing anyone will depend heavily upon how much money Ben is permitted to spend and if recent history is a guide, none of them will be signed
I think that Goldschmidt would be a good addition on a one year contract but he may want more years and more money than the Pirates would spend.
My wish list is Santana. I think Goldy will cost too much but love to have him. Don’t want Bell but the casuals would get excited. Oh hey we know that guy. For whom the bell tolls! Other teams need 1b too, they could end up with Rizzo or even Rowdy again.
RF it’s Winker. If too expensive Canha. Wouldn’t mind Pillar as back up. Pirates might fantasize about a Hayes reclamation though or worse Gallo. Maybe Cruz Joe back. Anything is possible with these clowns. Well as long as it doesn’t cost $
Not sure of everything you’ve written here but Bellinger would be an immediate upgrade to the lineup. And will never happen. Goldschmidt had a down season and to me is now a step down but he’s still a better offensive option than Santana or Bell. And that’ll never happen either
Both of these guys would be too costly and it would mean Nutting had a complete epiphany.
I admit I liked Winker in the last weeks and playoffs. If nothing else, the guy is a gamer
But again, this is the Pirates.
I don’t think Bell or Santana will fetch much on the market , especially considering they already were able to sign Santana in the past.
5-6 mil on 1 year for either imo.
Goldschmidt prob around 10 mil
Naylor something like 13 mil arb and requires a trade
Bellinger is like 18 mil/yr , not even an option for Pirstes
Here again, we see Detroit is interested in Goldschmidt
Isn’t it interesting to look at Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City and Milwaukee—all smaller market teams. All have gone through their rebuilds.
And ask yourself, just where is the disconnect where Bob Nutting is concerned?
Can he play this “small market/limited budget” myth forever?
I’d be very OK with them cutting their off-season budget in half for 2026 if it meant adding Naylor or Goldschmidt for 2025
I’m sure it’s occurred to them that along with starting pitching, they have some pieces here
Reynolds
Cruz, and he’ll only improve
Gonzales and Bart look ok
It would only take a couple mid tier bats to make them competitive in the NL Central
Apparently, considering he totally destroyed the 2015 roster and still owns the team 10 years later
I agree with others saying they might do very little at 1B, considering from 2012-2015 they mightve won a World Series had they added a solid vet bat in RF as the missing link
I remember the talks of Alex Rios or Hunter Pence to sure up the lineup.
Who’d they settle on?
Travis Snider lol
So ya , when it should be “at worst” Bell or Santana ,
Maybe we should be thinking “at best” one of them
Winker is perfect for pnc. Not a lot of range perfect for pnc right field. Left handed fly ball hitter. Perfect for pnc. He’s more valuable to Pirates than any other team. And Shelton is talking Reynolds at 1b. So they will need to outfielders if they get impressed with him and stupidly pass on a 1b. Easier to get a 1b than outfielder. 2 best options were expensive and already gone.
he’s been playing the small market theme since 1997, no reason to stop now
It’s funny to me that he’s literally alienated all of print and electronic media in this town. And that’s noteworthy because at least a few would give him some semblance of sympathy for continually pounding the same drum
But it’s a myth
I’m not going to pitch in on billboards or be one of ten people picketing PNC Park, but someday the Pirates will have ownership whose sole vision isn’t profit margins
I read that Ben is looking at Rizzo to platoon with Reynolds at first base
They think that they can sign Rizzo for $2 million
Always go for the cheapest option
This goes beyond the idea of “cheap”