The Pittsburgh Pirates Make Roster Moves to Kick Off 2023 Offseason
The Pittsburgh Pirates wasted no time in getting their offseason underway, as they made several roster moves on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming year.
Trades and Waivers
One of the notable transactions involved the Pirates trading right-handed pitcher Cody Bolton to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. Additionally, multiple players were placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by other teams.
Infielder Vinny Capra, who primarily played in Triple-A, was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cleveland Guardians also added first baseman/outfielder Alfonso Rivas through the waiver wire.
However, the most significant move came when utilityman Tucapita Marcano was claimed by the San Diego Padres. Marcano had previously been traded by the Padres to the Pirates before the 2021 trading deadline as part of a package deal for second baseman Adam Frazier.
Player Performances
During his time with the Pirates, the 24-year-old lefty batter Marcano showcased his skills, hitting .233 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 75 games. Unfortunately, a right knee injury in late July sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
As for Cody Bolton, the former 6th-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft finally made his Major League debut this season after battling injuries in the minors. In 16 relief appearances, Bolton pitched to a 6.33 ERA and 2.11 WHIP, recording 22 strikeouts in 21.1 innings.
Vinny Capra, who was known to General Manager Ben Cherington from their time together in Toronto, had limited opportunities with the Pirates, managing only 18 at-bats. However, he displayed promise during his time in Indianapolis, hitting .289.
Alfonso Rivas, acquired from San Diego, made an impact as a lefty-hitting first baseman. In 40 games, he smacked three home runs and drove in 14 RBI, finishing with a .234/.305/.426 slash line.
Remaining Roster Moves
Pirates writer Alex Stumpf reported that utilityman Miguel Andujar and left-handed reliever Angel Perdomo are also on waivers. With these moves, the Pirates currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.
As the offseason progresses, the Pittsburgh Pirates will continue to evaluate their roster and make further adjustments to position themselves for success in the upcoming season.