Pirates News: 40-man roster shuffle, minor-league release lands in Japan

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ latest 40-man roster move says plenty about both their bullpen search and their roster crunch.

Pittsburgh selected the contract of right-hander Noah Murdock on Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis, a move driven by an upward mobility clause in his minor league deal. In other words, the Pirates had to add him to the 40-man roster or risk losing him to another organization.

To make room, the Pirates designated infielder Davis Wendzel for assignment. Wendzel has since been released, according to MLB.com’s transaction log.

Murdock isn't a finished product, but his underlying numbers are exactly the kind of traits teams chase in bullpen depth. Across 30 2/3 minor league innings this season, he owns a 4.11 ERA with a 31.5% strikeout rate, a massive 63.9% ground-ball rate and a much-improved 7.3% walk rate.

Murdock’s control has been the biggest obstacle in his career, including during a rough Major League stint with the Athletics in 2025. If the Pirates believe the command gains are real, he could factor into their bullpen picture soon. For a team still searching for reliable relief help, this roster shuffle was more than procedural housekeeping.

Pirates release Yunior Marte, Dominic Fletcher from minor league contracts

The Pirates also parted ways with two veteran minor leaguers over the weekend, releasing right-handed pitcher Yunior Marte and outfielder Dominic Fletcher as both players pursue new opportunities.

Marte has already signed with the Rakuten Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, returning overseas after a successful stint with the Chunichi Dragons in 2025. The 31-year-old joined the Pirates on a minor league deal in early June after being designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds but struggled with Triple-A Indianapolis, allowing five earned runs in five appearances.

The hard-throwing right-hander has appeared in parts of four Major League seasons but found greater success in Japan, where he posted a 1.95 ERA with Chunichi last season. He'll now look to rebuild his value in another high-leverage role in NPB.

Fletcher, meanwhile, exercised the July 1 opt-out clause in his minor league contract after the Pirates declined to add him to the Major League roster. The former Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox outfielder homered in what proved to be his final at-bat with Indianapolis before being granted his release.

Although injuries created opportunities in Pittsburgh's outfield earlier this season, the emergence of Esmerlyn Valdez, along with steady production from Jake Mangum, left Fletcher without a clear path back to the big leagues in Pittsburgh.

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