The Pirates designated infielder Tristan Gray for assignment, the team informed reporters (including Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Pittsburgh had not officially added Andrew McCutchen to their 40-man roster until this evening, so they needed to open a spot. McCutchen re-signed on a $5MM deal last month.
Pittsburgh claimed Gray off waivers from the A’s in the first few days of the offseason. The 28-year-old had spent a couple months on the A’s, as they’d only claimed him from the Marlins at the end of August. Gray has suited up for both those teams and had a brief stint on the Rays in 2023. Despite playing for a trio of clubs, he has just 17 games of MLB experience. He has hit .152 with one homer in 36 plate appearances.
The lefty-hitting Gray has a much more extensive minor league track record. The Rice product has taken nearly 1800 trips to the dish across four Triple-A seasons. Gray has hit .238/.306/.472 with 90 home runs in 443 games at the top minor league level. Strikeouts have kept him from getting an extended MLB look, as he has fanned in nearly 30% of his Triple-A plate appearances.
Gray has some power and a decent amount of defensive versatility. He has upwards of 1000 minor league frames at each of shortstop, second base and third base. Gray has just over 900 professional innings at first base as well. He has mostly played the corner infield in his limited big league time. He’s likely to end up on waivers again this week. Gray has been outrighted once in his career, so he’d have the ability to elect minor league free agency if he goes unclaimed.
The Pirates misspelled McCutchen (McCuchen) at Piratesfest over the weekend.
Someone needs to be fired
That’s not even close to being fired worthy. Just ask Williams Cherington Haines. Pretty much have to be the worst hitting coach or scouting director in baseball for multiple years to get fired.
Ridiculous lol. Nutting didn’t use any pirates inc to print it. He waited until they got to convention center and used their ink. Or made the unpaid intern print them up at home using their own ink.
Think about how much ink they saved.
Actually they missed the h. Printer needs fired
Every senior level manager was at this thing, all of them let it slip.
Plus, does that guy really need a sign?
Guapo is my pug’s name
Robert Nutting is that you?
Take your victory lap North side. I had your back on this buddy.
But, I’m just arrogant without facts according to TheMan.
Does that make him 50 shades freed…
Free to go over seas
So out of Hayes, Yorke, Gonzalez and Palacios, do three of them start on Opening Day?
Going into the season with this right field situation again is sad. They traded for someone they thought would be an upgrade, literally had to be an better than a .170 hitter and De La Cruz was in fact worse.
Maybe Palacios or Suwinski figure things out, not holding my breath at this point, and don’t think either should be handed the job. Yorke, maybe. Still young, but can he hit enough out there?
Just sign someone like Grichuk or Verdugo to at least be a more proven commodity.
I can see Yorke taking over third if Hayes is cooked, or if they just want to use IKF as utility or trade him. They also have Triolo who’s the same player but a bit lesser hitter.
Hayes was “cooked” before his back problem. They signed him as “the cornerstone of the franchise” and all he’s been is a bust, a guy who’s tried to play his way out of town. Yeah, solid glove. Great. Triolo has the same.
People keep talking about Suwinski as if there is some spark they’ve seen recently that fuels the hope. If anyone is “ cooked,” it’s likely him
70-72 win team. Nothing more
Read Madden’s column in today’s Trib. Speaks volumes as to what a joke this owner and franchise are
Triolo is probably an equivalent replacement for Hayes even when he is at near his best.
I gave up on Hayes pretty much, but the year before he was actually quite a bargain. Over 50 extra base hits with great D.
And Suwinski, while a low BA player, had a fit as a guy with a good eye and pretty good power.
Both just fell off entirely. Possibly Suwinski can be fixed with the right coaching. His at bats are very patient but he looks at too many called third strikes.
Holy crap… I opened the page and saw Tristan in the headline. Was gonna rage post…!
They have another six guys who also can easily be designated.
They also have three upper level management personnel who could easily be designated.
My guess is they have given Grichuk an offer but he is waiting for at least an equivalent one from another team.
baring other moves, Gray will probably get an extensive look. A power bat the team needs. Also a strike out machine that the team has plenty of so…. +/-