Pirates respond to bullpen disaster with controversial waiver claim

Pittsburgh Pirates v Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates v Philadelphia Phillies | Heather Barry/GettyImages

After a few up-and-down, injury-riddled months, the Tanner Rainey experiment is officially over in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates designated the right-hander for assignment on Monday to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Ronny Simón, whom they claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins. The Marlins designated Simón for assignment last week, along with first baseman Matt Mervis.

Rainey signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh in December has since produced a 10.57 ERA over 7 2/3 innings in 11 appearances for the Pirates. He is coming off an outing in which he gave up three walks and was tagged for four earned runs in the Pirates' 6-4 loss to the San Diego Padres Sunday at Petco Park.

In 197 career big league innings, the majority of which came with the Washington Nationals, Rainey has posted a 5.44 ERA. From 2019 to 2024 with Washington, he logged 182 1/3 of those innings with a 4.49 ERA, 28.5% strikeout rate and 14.1% walk rate. He will now head to DFA limbo, which can last up to a week.

Pirates pick up controversial Marlins castoff Ronny Simón in waiver claim

Simón, who got his first major league call just over a month ago, was designated for assignment on Friday after appearing in 19 games with the Marlins. After signing him to a minor league contract in November 2023, Miami selected Simón's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville on April 20.

The move came just three days after Simón made headlines (not the good kind) when he committed three errors and got pulled in the fifth inning of Miami's loss to the Padres. Simón is slashing .234/.327/.277 with a .604 OPS over 47 at-bats, making appearances at second base, shortstop and left field this season. 

In 2,328 minor league plate appearances, Simón has a .266/.341/.446 slash line and 108 wRC+. He got into 15 Triple-A contests earlier this season before getting the call to the big leagues, posting a .354/.441/.521 line in that small sample. He still has minor league options remaining, so the Pirates can stash him at Triple-A Indianapolis if they choose to recall a pitcher instead to take Rainey's place on the active roster.

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