Pittsburgh Pirates News: Yu Chang Claimed by an AL East Club

The Pittsburgh Pirates recently had to make some roster decisions.  One of the players who was designated for assignment has since been claimed.

The Yu Chang era for the Pittsburgh Pirates is officially over.  Well, at least for now.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a lot of roster moves to make over the last few weeks.  With players returning from injury it was only a matter of time until some tough decisions were going to have to be made.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Chang toward the end of May.  He was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians and the Bucs actually worked out a small trade to acquire his services. It was a classic player put on waivers who ends up being traded for “cash considerations”.

Chang would take the place of former first-round pick Cole Tucker.  Tucker was never able to put the offense together in Pittsburgh.  Again, it was only a matter of time until the new Front Office would give up on a draft pick from the old regime.  Tucker was given a lot of chances to make himself into an everyday player for the Pittsburgh Pirates it just never happened.

Chang, who was once thought of as a top infield prospect much like Tucker, was in a similar predicament in Cleveland.  It just wasn’t working there.  It did not go much better with the Pirates either. Overall he would only bat .143 with 18 strikeouts in just 49 plate appearances.

After appearing in 18 games across the month of June, Chang was designated for assignment when Tucupite Marcano came back to the Big League roster.  According to Marc Topkin, of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays have claimed the infielder:

It is always intriguing when the Tampa Bay Rays make a move.  Tampa is picking him up for a lot of the same reasons the Bucs did, he is versatile and has prospect pedigree.  It will be interesting to see if the Rays help Chang figure it out.  If not he likely will be off their roster sooner rather than later.  With how things have fallen for the Pirates roster in terms of injuries, Chang could end up back in Pittsburgh later this summer.