The Pirates reinstated four players to the active roster and waive/decline option on four others.
The MLB offseason is officially underway and the Pittsburgh Pirates have made multiple moves to shape the roster.
Facing the deadline to activate players off the 60-day IL and decisions looming on club options, nine players had their roster status changed on Monday.
The Pirates reinstated pitcher Hunter Stratton (leg), in addition to pitchers Dauri Moreta, Johan Oviedo, and catcher Endy Rodriguez with Tommy John surgery.
We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/sJnqygkOfa
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) November 4, 2024
Stratton ruptured his patella tendon on August 24 and will be sidelined for close to a year. Moreta, Oviedo, and Rodriguez missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John and spent side sessions rehabbing late in the year. Rodriguez played 10 games between Altoona and Indianapolis during the final month of the Minor League season, but never cracked the majors.
To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates removed right-handers Ben Heller, Daulton Jefferies, and Isaac Mattson. All three relievers cleared waivers and are now free agents. Depth pieces in the Pirates bullpen bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues, Heller (11.25 ERA, 2.08 WHIP), Jefferies (9.82 ERA, 1.91 WHIP), and Mattson (5.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) combined to pitch 17 games with the Bucs.
Pittsburgh declined the $15 million club option on left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales, who will miss most if not all of 2025 after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in September. The Pirates acquired the former Mariners starter from Atlanta after starting his career in the NL Central with St. Louis.
Gonzales posted a 4.54 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in seven starts (33.2 innings). He last pitched on August 7 and missed all of June and July while recovering from a left forearm muscle strain.
To complete the moves, the Pirates claimed outfielder Trey Cabbage off waivers from the Houston Astros. Cabbage, 27, slashed .243/.351/.474 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and 43 RBIs over 66 games in Triple-A this season.
He’s appeared in 67 total MLB games over the past two years and 45 in 2024. Cabbage hit .209 in 45 games and spent the previous year with the Angels. His best campaign came in 2021, hitting 27 home runs and driving in 82 over 108 games. The Pirates added infielder Tristan Gray off waivers to begin the month of November.
The 40-man roster stands at 38 players.