The Pirates announced this afternoon that outfielder Joshua Palacios and right-hander Peter Strzelecki have both cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis. Palacios has been outrighted previously in his career and could reject the assignment in favor of free agency if he so chooses, but Strzelecki has neither the previous outright nor requisite service time necessary to reject the assignment and will remain in the organization as non-roster depth going forward.
Palacios, 29, was selected by the Blue Jays in the fourth-round of the 2016 draft and made his big league debut with Toronto in 2021. He hit just .200/.293/.200 across 13 games for the Jays before being plucked off waivers by the Nationals in 2022, for whom he appeared in 29 games while hitting a similarly lackluster .213/.245/.255 in 49 plate appearances before being outrighted off the 40-man roster. He came to the Pirates the following offseason by way of the Rule 5 draft’s minor league phase.
In Pittsburgh, Palacios got a more significant big league opportunity than he did in either Toronto or D.C. as he appeared in 91 games for the Pirates throughout the 2023 season. Unfortunately, the lefty failed to make the most of the opportunity as he hit just .239/.273/.413 in that time, though his 21 extra-base hits (including ten homers) in just 264 trips to the plate hinted at intriguing power potential and he showed the ability to play decent defense at all three outfield spots. Unfortunately, Palacios did not get another opportunity of significance with the Pirates last year. While he did appear in the majors, he was limited to just 23 games and 78 trips to the plate where he slashed a middling .224/.333/.343 while failing to demonstrate the power potential that made him an interesting piece the year prior.
While the Pirates opted to retain Palacios on their 40-man roster throughout the winter, they ultimately cut him just prior to Opening Day when the club opted to roster Jack Suwinski as a left-handed reserve outfielder instead. Now that he’s cleared waivers, he’ll have the opportunity to either stick in the organization as non-roster depth at Triple-A, where he slashed a solid .291/.372/.489 across 51 games at Triple-A, or head out to the open market in hopes of finding a better path to big league playing time elsewhere.
As for Strzelecki, the right-hander signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent back in 2018 and worked his way up to the big leagues during the 2022 season. His rookie campaign was quite impressive as he pitched to a 2.83 ERA (143 ERA+) with a 2.94 FIP and a 27% strikeout rate in 35 innings of work. Unfortunately for Strzelecki, his follow-up season in 2023 was less impressive as he posted a 4.38 ERA in 37 innings split between the Brewers and Diamondbacks.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks just before Opening Day 2024 and was eventually traded to the Guardians, for whom he pitched sparingly in the majors but posted a solid 2.31 ERA and 3.77 FIP in 11 2/3 innings of work. He was DFA’d just before the non-tender deadline over the offseason and found himself shipped to Pittsburgh, but ultimately was DFA’d for a third time prior to Opening Day. This time, he finally cleared waivers and now will look to get back to the big leagues with the club at Triple-A.
Now all they have to do is DFA Shelton and Bednar
Why their replacements won’t do anything better. Shelton bad manager but doesn’t matter. Half his pen has been bad. Can’t hide 3 or 4 guys.
Kind of a microcosm for the year ahead so far. Good starting pitching, little hitting, lots of strikeouts (32 in 3 games?) bad bullpen
It’ll be September and we’ll reminisce about the whole season going this way
I kinda feel badly for Bednar. Local kid. Nice family.
I feel badly our gm is so bad he thought they could fix Bednar who was terrible last year. Wasted $. Feel bad they didn’t trade Bednar years ago.
The Pirates have struck out 27 times this year which, at the end of today, will tie them for eighth most team strikeouts with three other teams. The numbers are skewed at this time of year as two teams (dodgers and cubs) have played more games and fourteen teams, nearly half the league, have played fewer games. Given that the Pirates have played thirty innings so far, that is less than one per inning. Too many? I’m old school, so yes. Compared to the rest of the league, not bad.
The Pirates offense is not a power offense so they have to move the runners over. (Get them on, get them over, get them in.). Except for the running game (their fourteen steals is more than double anyone else’s), they continue to fail to move runners..
My math was wrong. Yes. 27 Ks
And I like your thinking here. How quaint—get them on and get them over. Agree 100%
But as someone pointed out below, it’s more like get them on, watch them die at that same base. There’s a reluctance, no, refusal to bunt or hit and run.
let’s not forget that this team set the franchise record for most strikeouts in a season last year so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they haven’t changed this season.
Their combined first baseman are hitless and many of these ks are while looking
100%. Players don’t know how to bunt anymore, they have to be taught. This team in particular, should work on bunting everyday. Take a lesson from Jim Leyland. Jay Bell led the league sacrifices batting 2nd. On this team, if the lead off man gets on then the next man up bunts them over, any inning, every time no matter who is at the plate.
Like I said, these first 3 games will act as a microcosm for 2025. The good starting pitching, weak relief, feeble hitting and questionable game strategies from the manager. This is Bucs Baseball
Sadly yes.
Bednar and Endy blew this game in the 9th inning, a walk, errant throw to 2nd that lands in center field and a wild pitch brings in the winner run
Since Endy can’t hit and Bednar can’t get batters out, maybe send both to Indy
Both still must have options
I would bring Grandpal back. Would have already done it. He can’t throw but that’s better than throwing it in the outfield. His leadership, game calling, framing are superior to anyone the pirates have. His bat might be as well. At least to anyone not named Bart.
They definitely need another closer.I was vilified for liking Chapman last year but they needed to sign someone to take his place.
I was on vacation since Thursday and did not see this series as I am on sabbatical until they fire Shelton.
Fundamentals are awful Cruz got a poor jump on the ball. When Bednar is shaky like he is he needs all the help that he can get.
I would pitch Borucki in tight situations and pray that Moreta gets healthy.Stratton should be called up as soon as anybody proves that he is incapable.And that includes sending Bednar down.
Whoever doesn’t think that the closer is an extremely important player does not know baseball.
How many loses can we attribute to Shelton already?
The Pirates have looked evenly matched with the Marlins. And the Marlins suck. Gonna be a long year in Pittsburgh.
As someone who can name most players on most teams, the Marlins have my mind boggled. Every guy is an unknown AAA player. There’s journeyman Otto Lopez, Orioles prospect Stowers and a bunch of minor leaguers, and theyre outplaying the Bucs. Don’t need to see Suwinski in right anymore. I thought Reynolds was supposed to be playing RF…. i can’t wait til Shelton is fired
Good news. That’s decent depth guys.
Agree
Last year they sweep a better Marlin team.
Our only hope for this season is a quick firing of Shelton so we have plenty of time to right the ship.
Shelton didn’t give Bednar a contract. Shelton didn’t sign Pham. Shelton didn’t refuse to sign someone better than Bae.
1 more for my friend Eduardo.
Shelton didn’t trade Ortiz and 2 prospects for a platoon 1b with a trashed wrist.
Is anyone watching the games?
Yeah, Shelton. Ok. He’s overmatched here
But 32 K’s in 3 games????
I didn’t see anything wrong with Shelton. Hes bad but hasn’t blown games yet. What he shouldn’t have used Bednar? Guys making 6m. He has to use him.
Has to use Pham. Your gm told you Suwinski is so bad we have to make desperation move and sign Pham for 4m. Pham said playing time is why he signed. Bednar and Pham play until your gm tells you it’s ok not to. And why Cherington fought to keep Shelton.
Look look. Dreams defending Shelton!!!!!!! Just common sense. They didn’t give Bendar 6m to pitch garbage time. He’s going to have to stink it up before Cherington admits mistake. They have Rowdy to June and he actually hit. If not he would have been like Yoshi and went to July August. Alford Fowler Kai Tom? Marchado Tucker Bae? Castillo Park? They don’t give up on you easy. Olivares. Kang? Barmas? What’s that utility guy they traded Joe for even after he was trashed in a car wreck?
How about 1st and 2nd and no outs. You have to get a run there but no let Suckwitski swing away and not advance the runners.
Next inning and Miami does that and they score a run.
Shelton is TRASH
Suwinski can’t bunt. Bunting is boring. Score more runs not bunting. He had double and nearly a hr and you want to bunt him lol
In the olden days, everyone could bunt. It was part of the game. Getting runners into scoring position and putting pressure on pitchers and defenses was a big part of the game. Now, it’s all power and that’s a shame
their leadoff hitter yesterday tried a lay down a bunt but struck out on a pitch outside the zone.
Leadoff position yesterday including pinch hitters struck out a 🪮 5 times.
Pham struck out looking.
These players are obviously not taught to protect the strike zone
every time Sheldon uses Bedner as a closer he’s blowing games for us
The lack of fundamentals here under Shelton is one thing. It’s outrageous. But it’s never corrected or addressed, and that’s even more mind numbing. LL managers know better
I actually like the bucs being aggressive in the base paths. It’s not Shelton’s fault talent is thin.
Yeah, they’re running this year. Being aggressive is great. Now if they could only get more guys on base
Few will argue that Cherington is also awful and needs to go also.
Hague is Haines 2.0 once they get a new hitting coach they will be great.
Edit: Once they put some new bodies in Pirates uniforms…maybe in 2028…. They will be great
I was told Haines was the problem
Charley Lau. Tim Hyers. Walt Hriniak. Kevin Seitzer. All good hitting coaches. Don’t think any one of these guys ever raised the dead
Haines? Hague? Good luck
Haines was the biggest problem,but not the only one.
We still do not know if his philosophy was being told to him.
In defense of firing Haines, someone’ had to be fired after another dismal performance at the plate and it certainly wasn’t going to be Shelton
Yeah, I agree. But how is it that so many of these kids are coming up through the minors with such little plate discipline, and so many mechanical issues?
position player development has been horrible under Cherington.
Granted he fired the PD team over the winter, these guys still haven’t changed their approach to the plate.
Considering Shelton was once an assistant hitting coach, I would think he should have a role in this issue
It should have been both of them.
But it all goes back to Nutting not knowing baseball.
What happened to Skenes cutter? Someone shared helpful information with Skenes.
Peter spent the last 2 years with Brent. That combination isn’t working.
How bads Cherington? These 2 guys were actually on the 40 man! Took nearly April to get them off!!!!
As expected. Neither guy was that good.
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/pirates-to-designate-pe…
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/pirates-designate-joshu…
If Bednar wasn’t from Mars, PA he would already be gone but he is a local who grew up 30 mins from PNC Park and for whatever dumb reason he gets a longer leash. He is cooked and needs to go.
Deposit Strzelecki in the scrabble box with Rzepcyzski.
Bednar is done. They should have traded him last year at the deadline for orioles too prospect Mayo, a first baseman
4th game and already Shelton has 4 different lineups. He’s a pathetic loser
someone said that Shelton isn’t the problem with this offense
He changes the lineup like normal people change their underwear
Today’s lineup , other than Reynolds batting second and IKF batting 9th, everyone else was put into a different position
For what reason is Valdez starting?
Bae, the fastest player on the team gets caught trying to steal 3rd base
Triolo and Endy are a combined 0 for 15.
Still no hits from whoever plays first base. Frazier should not bat lead off
and as of 9 innings they only have 7 hits
Their offense stinks
Yep. Did I say I feel badly for Bednar?
It’s not Rick Ankiel’s yips, but to watch a kid fall apart like this? Shame
And I knew it was blown when he came into the game
9 more K’s today. Did Haines really leave?
Valdez is starting because Endy Triolo can’t hit. Valdez blasted a ball that took a great outfielder to catch. Pham Reynolds Suwinski Bae wouldn’t have caught it.
If you are on the roster you have to play. Can only miss so many games and be able to hit still. Problem is owner. Management should have been fired. Bae shouldn’t even be on roster.
Yes every player has to play but not start.
Give the regular players a few abs then bring in the other players to replace them
And Frazier batting lead off?
Losing 3 out of 4 to the worst team in baseball,and with the lowest payroll of 46 million is just plain unacceptable. Bednar again.
Shelton has to go.
Holderman threw a third game in this series? Couldn’t they throw Heaney one more inning to lessen the need to use him?
Holderman had that good year in 2023 but is toast under pressure.I say send these guys to AAA to see if it shocks them.If Nicolas gets his act together in AAA maybe he can close.Bring up Stratton.
At least the starters have pitched well.
I hate to over react after just one series but this is just more of the same crap and hopefully Nutting will fire Shelton finally sooner rather than later.
Nicolas looked good last year. In spots. Other times, he had a hard time finding the plate. You’re right, hopefully he’s progressing. 99-100 on the radar gun is a nice commodity
Why are young players like Cruz and Hayes being rested after 3 games? Reynolds seems to be the only player that Shelton will play almost every day. Cal Ripken would never had set a record with Sheldon as his manager.
Cruz did pinch hit yesterday and did what he was best at last year
He struck out on a pitch nowhere close to the plate
For some reason these guys still don’t know where the strike zone is, they either strike out on pitches outside the zone or strike out looking
Same result as last year but with a few different players
I was no fan of Haines. But what do these guys do in the off season to improve? Apparently nothing. Just run it back and get the sane results
actually, Henfy Davis worked on his swing and stance over the winter. He was a much improved player during spring training.
But he’s in the minors because they need a first baseman since Horowitz is still on the IL.
Has there ever been a Pirates player—outside of Al Oliver, perhaps—who has had his head messed with more than Davis?
@theman, really? Last year, Cruz struck out 30.2% of his plate appearances and walked 8.5%. This year, taken with a grain of salt since it is early, he has struck out 17.6% of the time and 35.3% of the time. Looks like a significant improvement. Looks like someone has put in some offseason work.
Oddly, Pirate fans whine about Cruz’s batting whereas Elly del la Cruz,struck out 31.3% of the time last year while walking 9.9% of the time. His numbers this year are 33.3% and 8.3%. Reds just love Elly. Strange how perception works.
Well, if it means anything, I whine about hitting and fielding mechanics more than most. But it’s emblematic of the times. It’s everywhere. But Skeptical, the lack of plate discipline here is amazing, no? TheMan is right, and it certainly applies to Cruz, Endy, Jack. Hayes and others. No concept of the strike zone. No understanding of situations. Many mechanical quirks. All in one lineup
The Pirates have a backup quarterback who also works as an assistant pitching coach his name is Swamy.
Bednar shouldn’t feel unsure about throwing the Roger Beshens Football Slider.
Already sick of the Pirates ! 4 games in……..
3 quality starts wasted already
Not much hitting
Bullpen mostly awful (when is Bednar going)
“Major” pickup Pham doing nothing
Same as it ever was !!!!!!!!!!
you get what you pay for