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A former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher saw his tenure with his current team come to an untimely end over the weekend, as right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton was designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals.
Stratton, who was in the second season of a two-year, $8 million free agent contract he signed with the Royals after winning a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023, had posted a 7.94 ERA over 17 innings and 12 appearances in 2025. This followed a similarly disappointing 2024 season in which he struggled to a 5.55 ERA over 58 1/3 innings and finished the season on the injured list with a right forearm flexor strain.
The past two seasons have been a fall from grace for Stratton, who was a solid contributor to the Pirates' bullpen from 2019-22. Over parts of four seasons in Pittsburgh, the right-hander posted a 3.98 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 196 2/3 innings before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.
A former first-round pick (No. 10 overall) by the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 MLB Draft, Stratton will likely be released by the Royals after clearing waivers.
Pirates News: Nick Solak returns to MLB, Helman lands with Rangers following DFA
The Pirates selected the contract of second baseman/corner outfielder Nick Solak from Triple-A Indianapolis over the weekend when they optioned Ji Hwan Bae off the active roster. Solak has since appeared in two games for the Pirates, going 1-for-10 with a single, in his first Major League action since 2023.
Originally selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Solak has bounced around several organizations over the past decade. Solak is a bat-first prospect whose lack of a defensive home has cost him consistent MLB action, but he has hit well against minor league pitching over the course of his career with a .291/.379/.472 line over parts of six Triple-A seasons.
Solak, who signed a minor league contract with the Pirates during the offseason, got off to an exceptional .393/.452/.625 start through 32 games with Indianapolis this year. He is out of minor league options, so he would first have to pass through waivers if the Pirates wanted to send him back to Indianapolis.
To create a spot for Solak on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated outfielder Michael Helman for assignment. The 28-year-old had only been with the organization since Wednesday, when Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. He has since been claimed off waivers for the second time in under a week, this time by the Texas Rangers, who have assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.
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