Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Waiver Claims Who Could Impact 2023

4 of 4

BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 14: Ben Cherington, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, leaves the pressroom after addressing the media before a game with the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on August 14, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. John Farrell #53 of the Boston Red Sox will step down to start treatments Stage 1 lymphoma.(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed these three players off of waivers throughout the 2022 season, but they could have an impactful role on the 2023 team.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their fair share of waiver claims throughout the years. With an owner that usually doesn’t put up a massive payroll, the team often searches through the waiver wire to find diamonds in the rough. Usually, waiver claims don’t have that much impact, but teams occasionally will stumble upon a decent player.

The team has a few waiver claims on the 40-man roster, and there are three who could be key parts of the Pirate roster in 2023. Even if the Pirates aren’t terrible next season (which is entirely possible given the amount of talent that will be at Triple-A to start the year), these three former waiver claims may potentially be impact players.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 12: Robert Stephenson #41 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 12, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Robert Stephenson

Robert Stephenson was formerly a top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds’ system. After struggling as a starter in his first few seasons, Stephenson moved to the Reds’ bullpen in 2019. The right-hander had a decent 2019 and 2021 seasons with the Reds and Colorado Rockies but struggled mightily to start the 2022 campaign.

His first 44.2 innings with Colorado had a 6.04 ERA, 4.66 FIP, and 1.48 WHIP. Stephenson did have a 6.6% walk rate, but he struck out batters at just an 18.8% rate and had a 1.61 HR/9. Stephenson was then designated for assignment and claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But Stephenson had a change of fate after being claimed. He only pitched 13.1 innings for the Pirates before the end of the year, but he struck out 36% of the batters he faced and allowed just a single walk to 50 total batters. He did allow two home runs, which was a bit concerning given he had a flyball rate over 50% and opponent exit velocity over 90 MPH.

Stephenson did so well down the stretch because he started using his slider more often. Stephenson used his slider nearly 70% of the time and held opponents to just a .170 average and .264 wOBA against it all season. In comparison, opponents demolished his fastball to a .386 average and .459 wOBA.

Stephenson had a quality 2019 season and then a quality 2021 season. It’s not as if he can’t piece together a good campaign on the mound. His slider has always been elite, and if he can keep throwing it a lot, he’ll definitely become a reliable reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates next season.

Oct 4, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Miguel Andujar (26) wears a Pirate costume in the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

LF/DH Miguel Andujar

It wasn’t all that long ago that Miguel Andujar looked like he might be part of the next great New York Yankees team. In 2018, the then-third baseman finished second in Rookie Of The Year voting behind two-way star Shohei Ohtani. Andujar finished the year with a .297/.328/.527 line, .361 wOBA, and 129 wRC+. Although Andujar only had a 4.1% walk rate, he struck out in just 16% of his plate appearances.

Andujar was also a very powerful rookie, cranking 27 home runs and hustling out 47 doubles (a rookie record). Though Andujar’s defense was far from one of his strengths. He was worth -21 Defensive Runs Saved, -7Outs Above Average, and posted a -24.5 UZR/150. But at the time, the Yankees weren’t too worried about his defense, given how he performed with the bat.

But after 2018, Andujar suffered multiple injuries and played just 78 games in his next three seasons. When he did play, he had just a 58 wRC+ and -1.6 fWAR. Andujar opened the year as a depth player for the Yankees, a far cry from the future star he looked to be just a few years prior. The Yankees rarely used him in the majors, giving him just 100 plate appearances before being DFA’d. That’s when the Pirates swooped him and snagged the former top prospect.

Although Andujar had just a 78 wRC+ through his first 40 plate appearances, he also had two multi-hit games and three doubles. A .273 batting average on balls in play certainly didn’t help Andujar, but with a 30.3% line drive rate, that will surely rise.

Andujar’s days at third base are all but over. Not only was he a terrible defender at the hot corner, but he hasn’t played it regularly since 2018. Even in the minor leagues, he was getting more reps in left field. His left field defense certainly isn’t bad either, with +2 DRS, a +3.2 UZR/150, and only -2 outs above average. But he will definitely be part of the Pirates’ designated hitter options for 2023, at least to open the year.

PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 03: Manny Banuelos #53 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on October 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Left-Handed Reliever Manny Banuelos

Another former Yankee, Manny Banuelos hasn’t taken the most conventional route to the major leagues. Initially a top prospect in the Yankees’ system in the late-2000’s and early-2010’s, Banuelos was traded to the Atlanta Braves for David Carpenter and Chasen Shreeve when the Braves started their rebuild. Banuelos made his debut in 2015 but wouldn’t be seen in the major leagues again until 2019, this time with the Chicago White Sox. After 2019, the southpaw would play in multiple foreign leagues, including in Mexico, Japan, and China, before rejoining the Yankees once again in 2022.

But Banuelos’ return to his original organization was short-lived. He pitched just 8.1 innings for the Yanks before being designated for assignment. The Pirates then picked up Banuelos, making them the sixth organization he has been a part of and the fifth one he took the mound for.

Banuelos didn’t make the most remarkable first impression, allowing five earned runs in just a third of an inning. But after that outing, the lefty turned things around, pitching to the tune of a 3.62 ERA, 3.24 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP through his next 32.1 innings. Banuelos’ 11.6% walk rate was poor, but he struck out 24.6% of the batters he faced and allowed just a single long ball.

Banuelos’ biggest strength was definitely getting batters to ground out softly. He had a 52.5% ground ball rate and 84.2 MPH exit velocity. This led to a 2.4% barrel rate, meaning opponents rarely made quality contact vs. Banuelos. In layman’s terms, Banuelos made batters look like 2020-2021 Kevin Newman when they made contact. Newman had an 85.3 MPH exit velocity and 9.6-degree launch angle, and Banuelos had an 84.2 MPH exit velo and 10.1-degree launch angle.

Next. Johan Oviedo Could Break Out in 2023. dark

Between his solid strikeout rate, ability to keep the ball on the ground, and ability to avoid hard-hit baseballs, Banuelos has the skills to be a potential high-leverage reliever for next season. It’s not often you find a quality reliever on the waiver wire, especially a left-handed one, but Banuelos could be just that next year and become a nice late-bloomer prospect story.

Home / Pirates News