Pittsburgh Pirates: Roster Moves Are Coming Before Wednesday

Before Major League Baseball’s CBA expires on Wednesday the Pittsburgh Pirates will have to make at least two roster moves

Unfortunately, we are just a few days away from Major League Baseball’s CBA expiring and the sport going into a lockout. Prior to the CBA expiring on Wednesday there are a pair of roster moves that the Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking to finalizing and then make.

Last week was a busy one on the free agent market for the Pittsburgh Pirates. First, they signed veteran left-handed starting pitcher José Quintana to a 1-year, $2 million contract. They then re-signed first baseman/corner outfielder/designated hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo to a 1-year contract worth $4 million.

Each of these signings have yet to be finalized, however. Due to this neither Quintana nor Tsutsugo has been added to the 40-man roster yet. This is something the Pirates will want to do before the CBA expires on Wednesday and the lockout begins.

Odds are both Quintana and Tsutsugo will be in Pittsburgh early this week, if they are not already, for their physicals. Once that is completed pen will hit paper for both and the signings will be official. At this point both players will have to be added to the 40-man roster.

The question then becomes who will the Pirates look to remove from the 40-man roster in order to make room for Quintana and Tsutsugo? Well, with MLB’s non-tendered deadline moved from December 2nd to this upcoming Tuesday, odds are, players that the Pirates decided to non-tender will be the 40-man roster victims for Quintana and Tsutsugo.

Pitchers Chad Kuhl and Steven Brault are candidates to be non-tendered, Brault could also be a potential trade candidate in the next 48 hours. Shortstop Kevin Newman and first baseman Colin Moran are two other players who are arbitration eligible that the Pirates could look to trade. Especially with the re-signing of Tsutsugo making Moran expendable.

There are also other candidates on the roster to be designated for assignment. Pitchers Anthony Banda, Eric Hanhold, Sam Howard and Cody Ponce are all in this boat, along with utility man Cole Tucker, and outfielders Jared Oliva and Anthony Alford.

Regardless of what the moves are the Pirates will be looking to clear at least two 40-man roster spots before Wednesday. This number could even grow if the Pirates make any more roster additions between now and then as teams look to fill roster needs quicker than usual in the offseason due to the looming lockout.