Latest Pirates' roster shakeup proves trade deadline mistakes keep haunting them

On Monday, newly-minted Pirates reliever Andrew Heaney blew a three-run lead against the Cardinals, when he gave up four runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He was replaced by Colin Holderman to get out of the inning, but Holderman gave up an RBI single that scored the last runner Heaney left on base.

It was the latest in a season full of blowups that have just gotten worse and worse every month. In just two appearances as a reliever, Heaney has a 32.30 ERA.

With that appearance, he got to 120 1/3 innings pitched as a Pirate, and successfully (or rather unsuccessfully, depending on how you spin it) cleared a 120-inning benchmark that earned him an extra $50,000 on his base $5.25 million contract for the year.

There are more escalators built into his deal — $100,000 for 130 innings pitched, and $150,000 each for 140, 150, 160 and 170 — but he's not going to get the chance to hit them. The Pirates designated him for assignment on Tuesday, and Dauri Moreta was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace him on the 26-man roster.

Pirates designate Andrew Heaney for assignment right after reaching 120 IP benchmark

The Pirates could've saved themselves $50,000 and some embarrassment if they'd just done what everyone had expected them to do: trade Heaney at the deadline. He didn't look great through July, but his 4.79 ERA through July 26 was generating some interest, namely from the Yankees, who ended up taking David Bednar, and only David Bednar, despite interest in multiple other Buccos.

Heaney might not have netted Pittsburgh a return worth writing home about, but they wouldn't have had to eat what they owe him for the rest of the season, and they might've won Monday's game against the Cardinals. Not to mention, they could've cleared a roster spot for a more deserving player.

Moreta has gotten some playing time this season; he was recalled on Aug. 2 as Thomas Harrington was sent down. He pitched four clean relief appearances before giving up two runs in 1 1/3 innings on Aug. 10, which got him sent right back down when Chase Shugart came off the IL the next day.

It was obvious as soon as the Pirates' trade deadline passed quietly that they missed out on multiple opportunities to clear their slate and build up a little again, but Heaney's DFA just puts on a finer point on the front office's shoddy deadline strategy.