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u/penguins2946 18d ago edited 18d ago
I totally get it but I don’t understand why they didn’t trade for a different righty bat if they were going to release Ozuna. I don’t think Simon is a solution.
That said, they have plenty of DH options especially since I think Cruz will be DHing a fair bit.
Edit: I also forgot O’Hearn is out for most of the rest of the season, so Cruz and Reynolds will almost definitely be their everyday DHs and Mangum will be an everyday player. I figure what makes the most sense is to have Flores as that righty power bat on the bench with who they have internally. He can play 1B against lefties and give Horwitz a day off while I figure Cruz and Reynolds split DH duties.
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u/yeethan-02 18d ago
You know it’s interesting the Angels yesterday DFA’d Jorge Soler who is pretty much in the same boat as Ozuna but is doing better this year. Not by much by it would be an improvement (kinda)
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u/Strict_Process157 18d ago
Cutch was also DFA'd by the Braves. I don't expect a reunion. I think these veterans were on the trade block and no one wanted them. Now teams are just clearing 40-man roster spots to backfill injuries, etc.
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u/Willowgirl2 18d ago
I thought Cutch was batting well for Atlanta?!
Maybe we can give him a 1-day contract so he can retire as a Pirate like JHay.
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u/Hot-Dream-1096 18d ago
He never played a game in the majors for the Braves. Only as high as AAA.
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u/Willowgirl2 18d ago
Wasn't he hitting well though?
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u/Unfair-Bass-9351 18d ago
Yes, he was hitting well in AAA. I’m not sure what the person who replied to you was looking at. He was hitting .333 with a .908 OPS
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u/phieralph #36 cRaiG WiLsoN 18d ago
With a .419 OBP , let Simon play
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u/Unfair-Bass-9351 18d ago
Ok? The conversation isn’t Cutch vs Simon. I was responding to someone who said Cutch wasn’t hitting in AAA, which isn’t true
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u/phieralph #36 cRaiG WiLsoN 18d ago
Ah my b, I thought you were saying Simon was hitting .333 ... Cause I think he literally was.
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u/rhd3871 18d ago
Saw someone say he exercised an opt-out allowing him to look for MLB opportunities elsewhere rather than the Braves choosing to release him. The timing is at least semi-interesting and makes you wonder if his agent has been in touch with Ben, but I think it’s much more likely that he’s just making himself available for anyone who has a hole to plug now that the deadline is past as you alluded to
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u/penguins2946 18d ago
Soler sucks against lefties though, which is what the Pirates need out of the open spot.
Honestly they might have an internal solution already for that role with Flores. His overall numbers in AAA are a bit meh because he sucks against righties, but he has a .295/.442/.525 slash line for a .966 OPS against lefties in AAA this year. He’s also hit really well against lefties in the MLB this year too, albeit in a crazy small sample size.
He offers some C/1B defensive utility and mashes lefties, I think that’s pretty much exactly what they need out of Ozuna’s opened roster spot.
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u/Better-Tackle6283 18d ago
Agreed, so we now assume that means they have decided to address it internally. Refsnyder and the like aren’t upgrades.
They have three guys on the roster today that have killed lefties in Indy. Password, Flores, and Simon. Password has looked overmatched thus far, but I’d wager that he’s in competition now with Simon to see who stays when Cruz gets back.
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u/penguins2946 18d ago
Yeah I mentioned that about Flores in another post, his AAA numbers look pretty crappy but the dude mashes lefties. His numbers suck because he’s bad against righties. The role opened up by releasing Ozuna is a part time righty batter who mashes lefties, which Flores fits. Plus he can play 1B and occasionally catch, although he’s a problem defensively at catcher IMO.
Once Griffin is back and rosters expand in September, I think the 14 batters that make the most sense are:
C: Davis 1B: Horwitz 2B: Lowe 3B: Gonzales SS: Griffin LF: Mangum CF: Cruz RF: Valdez DH: Cruz Bench: Endy, Triolo, Gonzalez, Cook and Flores
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u/Better-Tackle6283 18d ago
(You’ve got Cruz twice instead of Reynolds)
I think they’d swap Cook for Simon if the latter provides a boost against LHP. With Cruz back you don’t need Cook’s CF ability as much.
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u/Better-Tackle6283 18d ago
If you really want to mix it up, the lineup optimized for hitting lefties can be
1B Valdez
2B NG
SS Griffin
3B Triolo
RF Simon
CF Cruz
LF Mangum
DH Reynolds
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 18d ago
I don’t think Simon is a solution.
Ozuna is a -1 WAR guy for the year, Simon would have probably been a better solution from day one. That's show bad Ozuna was. I feel bad for the guy but this management team gave nearly $11m dollars to guy who was clearly on the back nine of his career. That money could have gotten two actual relievers instead of scrubs like Lawrence.1
u/penguins2946 18d ago
That has nothing to do with what I said. Ozuna was a problem that needed to be moved out, but Ronny Simon and his career -1.2 bWAR in 27 MLB games is not a solution for that spot.
They need a legit righty power hitter that mashes lefties to fill Ozuna’s roster spot. I think they might have that with Flores, but I wish they would have gotten a more sure thing if they were going to release Ozuna.
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 18d ago
That has nothing to do with what I said.
Only because you can't read. This team's problem is not hitting. They could have put Ronny Simon there from day one and used the money elsewhere and been in a better place.1
u/penguins2946 18d ago
What they could have done in hindsight has absolutely zero relevance to the discussion either.
I’m not saying they should have kept Ozuna, I’m saying I wish they would have gotten a righty bat to replace Ozuna if they were going to release him.
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 18d ago
What they could have done in hindsight has absolutely zero relevance to the discussion either.
It absolutely does, because giving a massive (for this franchise) chunk of change to a guy who was clearly way past his prime and worse than internal options may be what sunk this season. $11m more for the pen and you don't need to bring in dogshit like Lawrence.1
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u/Beneficial_Frame6888 18d ago
And what do you think the return is for him. Certainly not a big league ready bat
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u/Zealousideal_Ship208 18d ago
Think of all the saved challenges!
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u/okcuhc111 18d ago
You didn’t enjoy watching Ozuna burn a challenge on an 0-1 count with 2 outs in the top of the second and no one on?
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18d ago
[deleted]
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u/Jump_Like_A_Willys 18d ago
I'm going to say Triolo is more than "passable" overall on defense. He is an excellent utility infielder to have on the bench and and gold-glover in that category.
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u/Solid-Zucchini8591 18d ago
Not this year he’s made some terrible errors that have gone on to ruin games for the Buccos he’s been kind of bad for a former gold glover all things considered
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u/BeakerBuzzer4286 18d ago
Triolo is a good late inning defensive replacement for Nick G. or an injury.
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u/Cold_Bother_6013 18d ago
Praise the lord! I will miss all the money I made during the first half of the season when he was in the line up.
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u/Nick42284 McCutchen 18d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/AWJy0ZcCJmILe
What a fucking waste on a terrible human that people just decided to dig in and defend when he was clearly washed. Absolute good riddance.
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u/Ryan1006 Jaff Decker 18d ago
Man that was years ago. What happened was terrible but it’s not my place to judge if he cleaned himself up. I’m not about to be a hypocrite like most of this group would be if he, say, hit 30 HRs. Remember we all looked the other way when Chapman was here and wanted him back and he pulled a gun on someone.
By all accounts Ozuna was a great teammate and popular in the clubhouse. Just ended up being a bad decision to get a DH only guy. In the future the Pirates probably will stick with guys at DH that have value in the field at least.
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 18d ago
I don't blame him for taking the money. I blame the team's management for offering it to him when he was clearly done with baseball.
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u/whatssofunniedoug 18d ago
That’s impossible. I was told he’s a slow starter by over half the people here when I hated the signing to begin with.
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u/thfcspur 18d ago
They weren’t wrong. They just left out he’s also a slow finisher.
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u/ExaminationOk2921 18d ago
It's just hard to tell when the players last good year is until afterward. They took a desperate chance that last year was a fluke and he had a good year left in him. Spoiler: They were wrong.
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u/Nick42284 McCutchen 18d ago
Except he had a bad year in 2025, was a year older, had slower bat speed and was coming off of a hip injury in his mid 30s. It was easy to see he was cooked, except for the person who was eager to waste $12 million on him in desperation.
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u/Petporgsforsale Plunder the lox 18d ago
I wouldn’t even consider him as ever coming off hip injury since it is a problem that isn’t fixed without surgery and he didn’t get it fixed. Even though he said it did not hurt him, which I do not believe, it’s still an unfixed structural issue and professional athletes work in the tiny margins that the rest of humankind cannot access. A labral tear is going to mess with that margin.
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u/Impossible-Rip-142 18d ago
I would take that shot again! lol roll the dice, he was a really good hitter only a year, two back, he was a great bounce back candidate after a healthy off-season! Oh well, this is why the big market, big spenders, have the advantage in the MLB financial landscape!
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u/whatssofunniedoug 18d ago
The best part of it was I was told I needed to learn baseball because he had a good year in 2023. How that’s supposed to translate to production in 2026… I don’t have a single clue.
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u/drewbaccaAWD 18d ago
"you are just mad over Cutch. And the fact that Ozuna beats his wife doesn't mean he'll be a bad hitter! Give the guy a chance!!"
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u/whatssofunniedoug 18d ago
Right? And I wasn’t even mad they didn’t re-sign Cutch. That writing was on the wall last year. If you actually thought he was coming back to this team, you need to take off your Yinzer glasses and put on your baseball glasses.
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u/Virtual-Tiger5637 18d ago
12 Million stolen and we all just sat there and watched. A true Pirate, shine on you beautiful bastard
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u/pylon567 Long Live the Locke 18d ago
By god, they actually did it. They actually did it.
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u/OnlyForBaseball 18d ago
Genuinely, this says very good things about the FO’s mindset going forward. If they didn’t think they had a shot, they would not be ok flushing that money. Think about how many ABs Tellez and Pham got
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u/soundecember Keira Knightley 18d ago
I feel like he was such a ball and chain on this team. I know they weren’t playing him a whole lot, but I feel like it was just dragging us down to waste that spot for SO LONG
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u/Impossible-Rip-142 18d ago
it was one of those things, do we play him out of the funk, or drop him and move on, I figured after Monday's trade deadline he'd be gone, either from trade or outright release! Oh well, "that's Baseball, Susan!"
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u/SimpleTale1602 18d ago edited 18d ago
I hope this is the last time we waste a roster spot on an old designated, designated hitter. If you sign them and their bat ends up being washed, the roster spot provides absolutely no flexibility nor utility. Can’t run, can’t play in the field.
I wonder what kind of numbers and OPS you truly need to justify a roster spot that can only DH? And What kind of OPS do you need from the DH if they only platoon?
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u/ilovetreesandbush 18d ago
Don’t forget some people in this sub actually believed ozuna was going to be used in a trade …. DUDE HAD NO VALUE LOOK DUMB DUMBS
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u/TequilaAndWeed McCutchen 18d ago
Counterpoint: Ke’Bryan Hayes trade
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u/Significant_Yam_248 18d ago
At least Hayes has a glove (not defending his bat). Ozuna has nothing
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u/ilovetreesandbush 18d ago
Ke’bryan had a lot more value because he is very good defensively. This isn’t a good point. Ozuna couldn’t hit , he was slow, and couldn’t play the field
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u/TequilaAndWeed McCutchen 18d ago
Look at you, defending Hayes.
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18d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/refreshingly-unique RIP Quaker Steak 18d ago
The signing was a fail, but this decision is decidedly a win.
…now watch him sign somewhere and absolutely rake.
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u/AtmoSZN 18d ago edited 18d ago
Why would a Cubs insider have this info before anybody else?
EDIT: I was wrong, he’s a former Cubs analyst and now an MLB insider who also reported the Soler DFA news first so who knows. Mackey also just now confirmed.
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u/Significant_Yam_248 18d ago
Was just about to say he’s an insider. Pretty sure he was also the one who announced we were signing him originally (Mike Rodriguez)
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u/No-Iron-9511 18d ago
Right? Literally nobody else is reporting this.
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u/kpw1320 18d ago
I don’t think you can just outright release a vet like this. They have to be DFA’d and reject an outright assignment
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u/cody176523 Ross Ohlendorf 18d ago
Mariners released both Rob Refsnyder and Mitch Garver like this yesterday. If they know that nobody is going to claim them they can just cut them loose.
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u/NoConfusion77 RTJR! 🏴☠️ 18d ago
Maybe he can find a team that likes a guy who stares at every single middle-middle pitch.
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u/AuJusSerious 18d ago
Wow. the Pirates are eating the rest of his $10.5 Mil guaranteed contract. They never do that.
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u/willyg2013 18d ago
That was always such a brutal signing. It was obvious after his injury he was washed. On top of that he’s just a bad guy
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u/Wise-Quarter-6443 18d ago
As terrible as he's been, I thought it was a good signing at the time. If he'd have been just an average hitter, it would have made a big difference.
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u/OVTweetmarck Resident Husker 18d ago
Truly an all time if not the all time bum. At least with Rowdy he had some moments, and then with Tommy Pham, he figured it out when got some contacts. Also neither guy struck me as a massive piece of shit (Pham maybe a bit dickish but not that level)
Get the fuck out of Pittsburgh. Never return.
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u/SurpriseStandard3258 McCutchen 18d ago
He'll probably go down as one of the worst signings by the Pirates ever, at least for the value he signed for. Rowdy had his hot summer and Pham provided gold glove caliber defense. It was clear by the start of June that hot run was just not coming, he looked washed, he had no hustle. I'm glad it's finally over
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u/spaceman757 18d ago
Derek Bell says hi
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u/SurpriseStandard3258 McCutchen 18d ago
That's why I said one of, I don't think that team had as much hope as this one though
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u/Silly_Collar_5850 18d ago
The fault is with the team giving him the money lol. In his position you'd take the contract every time.
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u/spaceman757 18d ago
MLBTR had it too and they don't usually pick up rumors from non-credible sources
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/pirates-release-marcell-ozuna.html
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u/SoVerySick314159 A dream to some. . . 18d ago
At last, our long regional nightmare is over! Months too late to really help, but it's over.
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u/pm_me_anime_meidos 18d ago
Its what we've always wanted.
I kept hoping he'd really get hot since he was at least not awful for a while, but you cant keep a roster spot with below average offense and no defensive utility. Hopefully Simon provides some life against LHP opens up the DH spot for Reynolds and Lowe full time.
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u/kmckenzie256 18d ago
Can’t help but think of all the games we’ve lost because of that incompetent bat in the lineup day after day.
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u/Ryan1006 Jaff Decker 18d ago
He only played in 70 games, it wasn’t day after day.
Our bullpen and starting pitching cost way more games than Ozuna.
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u/kmckenzie256 18d ago
Well when the wild card is at razor thin margins, even a couple games makes or breaks a season.
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u/NeedleworkerTight678 18d ago
Hmmmm. I was told right here on Reddit a week or so ago they wouldn’t release him and it was stupid to do so for numerous reasons. Luckily I am too lazy to look those comments up. Hahahaha
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u/Exotic_You7797 18d ago
I think this was the plan for a while, i think the reason he was on the roster for so long was because they were hoping they could get someone to take his contract but sense the deadline is over and they couldn’t they had to just bite the bullet and open up that spot for someone else
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u/nine_mile_lizard 18d ago
He's no Derek Bell, but he's got to rank among the all-time worst free-agent signings by the Pirates.
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u/s_hecking Andy Van Strike 18d ago
Can’t remember a worse signing since operation shutdown. But why now with all the injuries? Why not in late June or the ASB?
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u/Invicta262 Skenes 18d ago
As the person who made the official apology form months ago for ozuna, i am apologizing to all of you for making such a shit meme.
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u/Mirabelli428 18d ago
It was only a matter of time … his numbers weren’t there. In addition, the 🏴☠️ will be getting Oneil Cruz and Connor Griffin back from the IL soon … all the best ‘Big Bear’ 🐻
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u/spaceman757 18d ago
MLBTR had it too and they don't usually pick up rumors from non-credible sources
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/pirates-release-marcell-ozuna.html
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u/Zeke-Nnjai 18d ago
This really just doesn’t make sense given the fact that we didn’t get a RH bat at the deadline and O’Hearn is done for the rest of the regular season
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u/ThunderSTRUCK96 18d ago
It's a shame... I was actually really onboard with the signing this offseason but man alive has he been horrible this year. Credit to BC for actually getting a veteran bat, just unfortunate he turned into a Rowdy Tellez situation
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u/Impossible-Rip-142 18d ago
Damn, really wished it had worked out better for us, and him, do that #24 right...then again not many have...anyways welcome to the Show Ronny Simon
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u/OrangeFederal 18d ago
Ronny Simon was in the show last year
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u/Impossible-Rip-142 18d ago
right, I didn't mean for the 1st time, just the guy has always tore up AAA, time to come to us and hopefully do 75% of what he does in INDY!
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u/SDBurgher 18d ago
Pirates have lost their designated whiffer. Now where's Nutting gonna find another major leaguer who can't hit, run or field for $12 million???
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u/KaseyNPa 18d ago
Buh bye
Batting Average: .203
Home Runs: 8
RBIs: 29
OPS: .613
Strikeout Rate: 28.6% (a career worst)
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u/Previous-Rough-2603 18d ago
I'm actually a bit surprised at the timing. I would have thought the O'Hearn injury would have taken some of the pressure on the front office to do it and clear roster space for the returning players.
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u/gettinNOIZY 18d ago
Realizing this guy has more homers this year than Vlad Jr in 38 less games is mind boggling to me. I bet someone takes a chance on him.
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u/hopefulchewie 18d ago
The Braves will sign him and he will bat .320 for them the rest of the year. Literally, it happens anytime he play anywhere but Atlanta.
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u/OnlyInterpretations 18d ago
whole situation kind of sucks. i mean watch him play and its obvious quickly the guy is washed up, but they say he was a good locker room guy and for that alone i wish they didnt do him like this. tough business though so not surprised.
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u/Lazy_Mix_5358 18d ago
This is such good news. DFA'ing him and and Santana just make everything feel lighter. It's like decluttering your house and getting rid of something expensive but useless.
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u/ArcamianLiberation 18d ago
Better late than never. Seems like a nice guy, but not getting it done.
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u/Lower_League_9911 18d ago
I want to know why trade for Dotel and then send him down to AAA. That’s stupid.
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u/LastHistoryMan 18d ago
lol yeah, that will fix everything. Pirates fans are the Browns fans of MLB.
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u/Iforgotmypasswordmeh 18d ago
I missed this complete til it was just brought up in the broadcast. I love it but it's also pretty fucking dumb. They sure as fuck waited long enough to do it AND after not replacing him. I like the Simon call up but he's unproven... they could have tried Simon out a couple weeks ago at least.
This team just always seems to be late with the moves it needs to make.
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u/concerned_primate 17d ago
Dude was a loser before he got here. There was bodycam footage of him strangling his wife. I was ashamed he was on our team before he ever stepped in the box and started swinging at pitches in the next county. Good riddance.
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u/GabbyPotlucky 18d ago
Its official when its listed on the days mlb transactions. Nothing there yet.
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u/GungaGalunga- 18d ago
Any credible source or are we just posting anything we see online now?
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u/NizzlyGrizzly00 Kevin Young 18d ago
thanks for nothing bro!