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Pirates announce flurry of roster moves after disappointing trade deadline

The deed is done.
ByEmma Lingan|
Apr 1, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Thomas Harrington (78) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Apr 1, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Thomas Harrington (78) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

After parting ways with four players in an abysmal showing at Thursday's MLB trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates have called up some reinforcements from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates traded away four members of their active roster ahead of Thursday's deadline: starting pitcher Bailey Falter, lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, and two-time All-Star closer David Bednar. They also flipped veteran southpaw reliever Taylor Rogers, whom they received from the Cincinnati Reds in the Hayes trade, before they had a chance to add him to their active roster.

Per a report from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, infielder Jared Triolo and pitchers Ryan Borucki, Kyle Nicolas and Thomas Harrington will be the four active roster replacements for Pittsburgh ahead of Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies. The Pirates confirmed that shortly after.

Pirates announce flurry of roster moves, including Thomas Harrington promotion

The headliner of this group is Harrington, who will join the Pirates for his second stint in the Major Leagues. The first stint didn't go particularly well, as he allowed nine earned runs on 11 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts in two games (one start) for Pittsburgh in early April.

Ranked the Pirates' No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Harrington went 7-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) with Indianapolis this season, but was 3-0 with a 3.75 ERA in five starts in July. It is presumed that he will take Falter's spot in the starting rotation, at least for the time being.

Triolo was practically guaranteed to be called up after the Pirates traded Hayes, as he is expected to serve as their primary third baseman for the remainder of the season. Triolo has slashed just .158/.253/.266 in 55 big league contests this season but offers the Pirates steady defense at the hot corner after winning a Gold Glove as a utility player last season.

Borucki, who has been sidelined with low back inflammation since June 21, has been activated off the IL and will fill the left-handed relief void left by Ferguson in the Pirates' bullpen. The 31-year-old has pitched in 29 games this season, going 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA over 25 2/3 innings.

With Dennis Santana likely sliding into the closer role now vacated by Bednar, Nicolas will presumably slot in as the Pirates' secondary late-inning relief option. After a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him pitch to a 3.95 ERA in 54 2/3 innings, Nicolas has struggled to a 7.50 ERA in just 12 big league appearances this season.

The Pirates' 26-man roster is now full, and the 40-man roster now stands at 37.

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