Niko Goodrum still has a future with the Pirates even after DFA

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been involved in a ton of transactions lately as the team's roster continues to take shape.

Last week, they claimed utility player Niko Goodrum off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Goodrum was simply here for depth purposes. He is by no means part of the future, as he is 32 years of age, but he's someone who can defend the corner outfield spots and play all over the infield.

Goodrum started off with the Detroit Tigers and was a part of their organization for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He was used as a utility man and produced for them, but things have not gone well recently, which led him to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates decided to cut ties with relief pitcher Ben Heller. They removed Heller from the 40-man roster and placed Goodrum on it. However, just a day later, Goodrum would be designated for assignment by the Pirates. The Bucs had to make a move to bring Josh Fleming back to the bullpen. However, according to the Pirates transaction log, Goodrum has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis.

While this may not be that big of a deal in the long run, it is always good to have depth. The Pirates and Derek Shelton produce as many lineups as possible, so aving a player like Goodrum, who can play any position and bat on either side of the plate could be useful in a quick-pinch scenario. If the Bucs are serious about contending for a playoff spot, that kind of versatility will be crucial as the year progresses.

The Pirates do not have a lot of depth in terms of offensive prospects, so a veteran who can come up and fill in immediately is useful to have. Goodrum may not light the world on fire for the Pirates, but he could make life a bit easier for Shelton and Co. should the team run into some injury issues.