3 Pirates players who won't finish the month of August on the big-league roster

The Pirates decided to go for it at the 2024 MLB trade deadline and make a postseason push. Thus far, they've been unable to creep past .500, with mid-August approaching. Their roster is nearly complete, but there are still a few players who could be replaced, after playing themselves out of the roster mix. These three Pirates have a solid shot at not finishing the month of August on the active roster.

Which players on the Pirates active roster are on the verge of a demotion?

Ji Hwan Bae

Although the Pirates have lost a few hitters to the injured list, they still need to find a way to get Ji Hwan Bae out of the dugout. Offense has been a problem for nearly the entire season, but having Bae in the lineup has made the issue worse. To top off his poor showing at the plate, his glove in the outfield has also not been good.

In 18 games this season, Bae has slashed a .191 batting average, .264 on-base percentage, and a .213 slugging percentage. He has driven in just four runs, along with his only extra-base hit being a double. His strikeout percentage has reached a career high at 28.6%, and his wRC+ is at a career low at 38.

Bae has always been known for being exceptionally fast, with a sprint speed in the 92nd percentile, but that has only translated to four stolen bases. It has also resultied in him getting caught stealing twice.

This has given him a negative fWAR in a very short amount of time. He has been very dominant with Indianapolis this season, but that version of Bae has not reached the majors, and the Pirates cannot count on it arriving anytime soon.

Jake Woodford

A strength for Pittsburgh all season has been pitching, but due to injuries, they have been required to roster arms like Jake Woodford. He has not been terrible, but he is certainly not a player the Pirates are looking to keep long term.

In just three appearances, Woodford has thrown 8.2 innings and has limited opposing hitters to a .176 batting average. His WHIP is also just 0.69, but his earned run average is at 4.15. These numbers are not bad at all, but he does not have a long-term future in Pittsburgh.

Woodford has thrown very well with Indianapolis, and should remain there when he is optioned for the return of either Jared Jones or Ryan Borucki. He is not a guy that the Pirates should cut bait with entirely, but it is likely he will not stay on this active roster.

Dennis Santana

When the Pirates needed an arm in the bullpen to fill in for a bit, they claimed Dennis Santana off of waivers from the Yankees. He was not expected to appear in any high-leverage situations, but regardless of his role, he's failed during his time in Pittsburgh.

With the Pirates, Santana has a 5.03 earned run average in 19.2 innings pitched and has a WHIP of 1.58. Allowing too many baserunners has been his issue, as opposing hitters are batting .309 against him.

Santana had a good stretch, but his inconsistency has made him a likely candidate to be off the roster by the end of the month. He is out of minor-league options, so when the Pirates unload him, he will likely be off the team for good.

There are other candidates that could be removed from the roster, but these three are the most likely to disappear from the Pirates by the end of August.