Pittsburgh Pirates: Roster Moves That Must Be Made to Finish the Season

With the Pittsburgh Pirates spiraling toward another 100 loss season, these roster moves must be made to give young players a look during the final six weeks of the season

Rebuilds happen in the sport of baseball, and when they do poor seasons typically are going to take place. Well, for the 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates, this has certainly been the case. However, there have been plenty of frustrating aspects to the season.

It’s year three of the rebuild. By year three there should start to be signs of improvement, signs of light at the end of the tunnel. Well, here we are, in late August and none of this applies to the 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates.

One of the most frustrating aspect of this has been the lack of commitment from the Pittsburgh Pirates to playing young players and giving them an extended look. Sure, we see Oneil Cruz playing every day, and now Rodolfo Castro and Tucupita Marcano as well, but there are still far too many journeymen veterans taking up roster spots who should not be.

After the trade deadline passed, fans were told that there would be changes to the Pirate roster. We were led to believe veterans who were not performing or on expiring contracts would be jettisoned off. Well, outside of Yoshi Tsutsugo being designated for assignment this has not happened.

Today, we will get into roster moves that the Pittsburgh Pirates must make down the stretch this season. These roster moves need to be made ASAP in order to get younger players as much playing time as possible over the course of the final six weeks of the season.

Designated Kevin Padlo for assignment, re-call utility man Diego Castillo

In late July the Pittsburgh Pirates optioned utility man Diego Castillo to Triple-A. When the move was made it was one that did make sense. However, it is now time for Castillo to return to the major leagues.

Castillo was optioned to the minors due to the need to get more regular at-bats against right-handed pitching. The 24-year-old Castillo was playing regularly against left-handed pitching in the majors, but had struggled mightily against right-handed pitching. The only way to improve against right-handed pitching is to get more at-bats against righties, and the best way for Castillo to do this was in the minors.

Since being optioned to the minors Castillo has hit well. In 77 plate appearances at Triple-A he has hit for a .278/.325/.389 slash line. Factor in his ability to play both middle infield positions at an above average ability, and it’s time for Castillo to return to the majors.

Making room for Castillo on the roster would be easy. To do this the Pirates need to designate Kevin Padlo for assignment. Padlo is 0-for-11 with the Pirates and a lifetime .119/.178/.167 hitter with a wRC+ of 3 in his MLB career. Padlo has no business being on a MLB roster and should be replace by another right-handed hitting utility man in the form of Castillo.

Designate Josh VanMeter for assignment, promote Ji-Hwan Bae

Somehow, someway Josh VanMeter remains on the Pirate roster. He is like a cockroach, or a turd that just simply will not flush. Even though he adds absolutely nothing to the team’s roster, VanMeter continues to take up a roster spot for some god forsaken reason.

VanMeter should have been designated for assignment months ago. It’s well past time for that move to take place, and in turn the Pittsburgh Pirates need to add utility prospect Ji-Hwan Bae to their active roster.

Bae has put together a tremendous season at Triple-A Indianapolis. Through 366 PAs with the Indians the left-handed hitting Korean product owns a .300/.367/.456 slash line to go with a 120 wRC+, 9.6% walk rate and a strikeout rate of just 18.0%.

Bringing a speed element to the table, the 23-year-old Bae also has 21 stolen bases this season. He can also play all over the field, having played every position except first base and catcher in his professional career.

With his ability to play all over the field it would be easy to get Bae in the lineup every day. Additionally, he could also give the Pirate lineup a much needed boost at leadoff spot. Most of all, Bae could have a very bright long-term future with the Pirates, and it’s time to start to find out.

Option Zach Thompson, re-call Cody Bolton

At one point Cody Bolton was arguably the best pitching prospect in the Pirate farm system. However, after Bolton struggled at Double-A in 2019, did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then missed all of 2021 due to a knee injury, his prospect stock has taken a big hit.

This season, however, Bolton has had arguably the biggest bounce back season of anyone in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Bolton entered play on Sunday with a 2.72 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 13.8% walk rate, and 25.4% strikeout rate with one home run allowed in 56.1 innings pitched at Triple-A.

While Bolton allowed 2 runs while walking a pair in 2 innings pitched Sunday afternoon, he still struck out three batters. On the season his ERA is still a strong 2.93. He still has more than earned his first MLB promotion.

As for Zach Thompson, he has been woeful for the Pirates this season. He owns a 5.51 ERA, 5.48 FIP, and has allowed home runs at a 1.72 HR/9 rate in 99.2 MLB innings pitched this season. He also ranks in the bottom 10% of baseball in whiff rate, chase rate, and strikeout rate. The near 29-year-old Thompson is showing why he was a career minor leaguer prior to last season.

Thompson is adding nothing to the Pittsburgh Pirates right now. He will also add nothing to the team in the long-term. As for Bolton, he could add long-term value. Bolton could be used as a reliever, a starter, or even as a piggyback guy. Regardless of how he is used, it’s time for Bolton to earn his first MLB promotion.

Designated Greg Allen for assignment, re-call Travis Swaggerty

At some point the Pirates need to find out what they have in former top-10 overall draft pick Travis Swaggerty. The only way to do this is to give him an extended period of time to either sink or swim in the majors.

It is time for Swaggerty to get that opportunity as the team’s every day left fielder down the stretch. To make room for him on the active roster, veteran outfielder Greg Allen should be designated for assignment.

Earlier this season Swaggerty made his MLB debut but was never given a fair shake. He only got nine PAs, with six being against left-handed pitchers, before he was optioned back to the minors.

At Triple-A this season Swaggerty has had a strong season. He entered play on Sunday with a .263/.352/.425 slash line, 12.0% walk rate and a 109 wRC+ in 359 PAs. Since returning from the concussion injured list in early May, Swaggerty has hit for a .281/.368/.466 slash line, 12.2% walk rate and a 123 wRC+ in 288 PAs.

There’s nothing left for Swaggerty to prove in the minors. Meanwhile, Allen is hitting for a .187/.291/.267 slash line and a 65 wRC+ in 86 PAs with the Pirates this season. Allen has no future with the Pirates and it is time to move on.

Adding Swaggerty does not need to cut into the playing time of other young players, either. The designated hitter can be used to get other young players at-bats. Additionally, while Ben Gamel should remain on the roster, he should not be playing every day. This would open up right field for at-bats to be given to players such as Marcano and Bae.

Regardless of how the final 41 games of the season shakeout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, they need to start putting a greater emphasis on playing for the future and giving young players an extended look. Even though they will likely continue to lose baseball games, that is a much easier pill to swallow when young players who might have a future with the team are the ones on the field while they gain valuable MLB experience.