%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201280.6%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201280.6%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23111111%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFB00D%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M117.1%2C40.1c0-4.8%2C2.3-10%2C7-15.4c-0.3-0.3-10-7.9-29.3-22.7H7.5L7.4%2C2.1C2.5%2C17.1%2C0%2C24.7%2C0%2C25.1%0A%09%09c5.4%2C6.1%2C8.1%2C12.7%2C8.1%2C19.5v112.8c0%2C6.9-2.7%2C13.4-8.1%2C19.5c0.5%2C1.9%2C1.9%2C6.4%2C4.3%2C13.7c1.9%2C6.2%2C2.9%2C9.4%2C3.2%2C9.4h33.4l7.5-22.9%0A%09%09c-1.5-1.6-2.8-3.2-3.9-4.9c-2.9-5-4.3-9.7-4.3-14.1v-41h16.1l14.5%2C37.4c4.3%2C10.2%2C6.4%2C16.6%2C6.4%2C19.1v1.1c0%2C1.9-0.6%2C3.7-1.7%2C5.6%0A%09%09c0%2C0.4%2C0.3%2C1.1%2C1%2C2.1c4.8%2C8.9%2C8.1%2C14.8%2C9.9%2C17.6h32.5c0.1-0.7%2C1-8.4%2C2.7-23.2c-6-3.3-10.7-8.5-14.1-15.4%0A%09%09c-1.8-4.2-7.4-18.5-16.7-42.8c0-0.1%2C10.3-9.8%2C31-29.2c0-0.1-0.2-0.3-0.6-0.7c-2.9-1.9-4.3-5.3-4.3-10.3V74%0A%09%09C116.8%2C67%2C116.9%2C55.7%2C117.1%2C40.1z%20M84.9%2C75.1c-2.6%2C2.7-5.9%2C6-9.8%2C9.8H40.2V33.6h34.8c3.5%2C3.4%2C6.8%2C6.8%2C9.9%2C10V75.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M265.6%2C23.9c-3.3-10.6-5.2-16.3-5.4-17c-1.3-4.4-2-6.6-2.2-6.6h-33.2c-0.7%2C1.8-3.2%2C9.6-7.7%2C23.4%0A%09%09c1.2%2C1.3%2C2.4%2C2.8%2C3.5%2C4.5c3.2%2C5.2%2C4.7%2C10%2C4.7%2C14.5v117.1c-3.4%2C2.2-7.2%2C4.9-11.2%2C8.1h-26.5c-0.4-0.3-4.1-3-11.2-8.1%0A%09%09c-0.1-33.1-0.1-60.6-0.1-82.5V42.8c0-6.6%2C2.7-13.1%2C8.2-19.4c-1.3-4-2-6-2-6.1c-3.5-11.4-5.4-17-5.6-17h-33.6%0A%09%09c-4.9%2C15.2-7.4%2C22.9-7.4%2C23.2c1.1%2C1.3%2C2.3%2C2.7%2C3.5%2C4.3c3.1%2C5.2%2C4.6%2C9.8%2C4.6%2C13.8v71.2c0%2C11.2%2C0%2C27%2C0.1%2C47.6c0%2C4.8-1.7%2C9.5-5%2C14.1%0A%09%09c-1.4%2C1.7-2.1%2C2.7-2.1%2C2.9c0.4%2C0.2%2C10.1%2C7.7%2C29.3%2C22.6h68.5c19.6-15.1%2C29.4-22.7%2C29.4-22.7V177c-1.8-1.9-3.1-3.8-4-5.7%0A%09%09c-1.9-4.2-2.8-8.8-2.8-13.8c-0.1-16.5-0.1-29.2-0.1-38.1V43.8C257.4%2C36.8%2C260.2%2C30.2%2C265.6%2C23.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M453.1%2C24.6c-4.7-15.4-7.2-23-7.4-23h-33.5c-0.3%2C0-1.2%2C2.2-2.8%2C6.6c-29.3%2C77.4-44%2C116.2-44%2C116.3h-0.3%0A%09%09C336.5%2C48.4%2C321.9%2C9.9%2C321.4%2C8.7c-1.7-4.7-2.7-7.1-2.9-7.1h-33.5l-7.4%2C22.9v0.1c5.5%2C6.2%2C8.2%2C12.7%2C8.2%2C19.5v115%0A%09%09c0%2C0.7-0.2%2C1.8-0.6%2C3.5c-1.5%2C6-4%2C10.8-7.5%2C14.4c0.7%2C2.3%2C2.2%2C7.3%2C4.7%2C14.8c1.6%2C5.5%2C2.5%2C8.2%2C2.8%2C8.2h33.2l0.1-0.1L326%2C177%0A%09%09c-4.1-4.8-6.5-9-7.1-12.6c-0.8-0.9-1.3-6.4-1.3-16.5V90.9h0.1c0.5%2C1.2%2C7.2%2C19.4%2C20.2%2C54.7c3.3%2C7.8%2C5%2C14.1%2C5%2C19%0A%09%09c0%2C5.5-1.4%2C9.8-4.3%2C12.8c0.7%2C2.3%2C2.9%2C8.3%2C6.6%2C17.9c1%2C3.2%2C1.7%2C4.7%2C2%2C4.7h36.4c0.4-0.9%2C3.2-8.5%2C8.5-22.6v-0.1%0A%09%09c-2.8-3.1-4.2-7.3-4.2-12.7v-0.3c0-3%2C0.4-6%2C1.3-9.1l23.7-64.3h0.1v59.7c0%2C8.1-0.5%2C13.1-1.5%2C15.1c-0.9%2C3.5-3.2%2C7.3-6.7%2C11.3%0A%09%09c3.3%2C10.6%2C5.2%2C16.6%2C5.7%2C18c0.9%2C3.3%2C1.5%2C5%2C1.8%2C5h33.1l0.3-0.1l7.3-22.7V177c-0.9-1.1-2.1-2.7-3.6-4.6c-2.9-5.2-4.3-9.6-4.3-13.3%0A%09%09v-115C445%2C37.2%2C447.7%2C30.7%2C453.1%2C24.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M579.8%2C133.3c0-0.5%2C0-0.9%2C0.1-1.3c0.4-3.9%2C2.6-8.3%2C6.7-13.1v-0.1l-17-13.3c-2.3-1.5-4.1-3.2-5.3-5.2%0A%09%09c13.7-10.4%2C21.1-16.1%2C22.2-17.2l-2.4-2.9c-2.9-4.5-4.3-7.9-4.3-10.2V38.5c0-0.4%2C0-0.7%2C0.1-1c0.3-3.3%2C2.5-7.5%2C6.6-12.6v-0.1%0A%09%09l-14.4-11.2c-5.8-4.3-10.7-8.3-14.7-12h-84.9c-0.5%2C1.2-3%2C9-7.5%2C23.4l2.8%2C3.6c3.5%2C5.5%2C5.3%2C10.3%2C5.3%2C14.5v115.6%0A%09%09c0%2C0.5-0.1%2C1.5-0.4%2C3.2c-1.6%2C6.4-4.1%2C11.4-7.7%2C14.8c4.7%2C15.4%2C7.3%2C23.2%2C7.5%2C23.2h84.7c0.1%2C0%2C0.6-0.4%2C1.4-1.1%0A%09%09c18-13.9%2C27.3-21.2%2C28.1-21.9c-4.7-5.4-7-10.4-7-15.1V133.3z%20M547.7%2C158.1c-5.3%2C5.5-8.6%2C8.8-9.9%2C9.9H505v-51.2h32.9%0A%09%09c2.7%2C2.7%2C6%2C6%2C9.8%2C9.9V158.1z%20M547.7%2C74.8c-2.6%2C2.8-5.9%2C6.1-9.8%2C9.9H505V33.6h32.8c3.5%2C3.3%2C6.8%2C6.7%2C9.9%2C9.9V74.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M728.3%2C23.9c-3.3-10.6-5.2-16.3-5.4-17c-1.3-4.4-2-6.6-2.2-6.6h-33.2c-0.7%2C1.8-3.2%2C9.6-7.7%2C23.4%0A%09%09c1.2%2C1.3%2C2.4%2C2.8%2C3.5%2C4.5c3.2%2C5.2%2C4.7%2C10%2C4.7%2C14.5v117.1c-3.4%2C2.2-7.2%2C4.9-11.2%2C8.1h-26.5c-0.4-0.3-4.1-3-11.2-8.1%0A%09%09c-0.1-33.1-0.1-60.6-0.1-82.5V42.8c0-6.6%2C2.7-13.1%2C8.2-19.4c-1.3-4-2-6-2-6.1c-3.5-11.4-5.4-17-5.6-17H606%0A%09%09c-4.9%2C15.2-7.4%2C22.9-7.4%2C23.2c1.1%2C1.3%2C2.3%2C2.7%2C3.5%2C4.3c3.1%2C5.2%2C4.6%2C9.8%2C4.6%2C13.8v71.2c0%2C11.2%2C0%2C27%2C0.1%2C47.6c0%2C4.8-1.7%2C9.5-5%2C14.1%0A%09%09c-1.4%2C1.7-2.1%2C2.7-2.1%2C2.9c0.4%2C0.2%2C10.1%2C7.7%2C29.3%2C22.6h68.5c19.6-15.1%2C29.4-22.7%2C29.4-22.7V177c-1.8-1.9-3.1-3.8-4-5.7%0A%09%09c-1.9-4.2-2.8-8.8-2.8-13.8c-0.1-16.5-0.1-29.2-0.1-38.1V43.8C720.1%2C36.8%2C722.8%2C30.2%2C728.3%2C23.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M864%2C36c0.8-4%2C3.2-8.2%2C7.1-12.6c0-0.5-2-7-6.1-19.7c-0.7-2.5-1.1-3.8-1.4-3.8h-33.2L823%2C23.2%0A%09%09c1.2%2C1.3%2C2.4%2C2.8%2C3.5%2C4.6c3.1%2C5%2C4.6%2C9.4%2C4.6%2C13.1v79.4h-0.1c-0.1-0.5-13.5-35.3-40.3-104.5c-3.8-10.2-5.9-15.5-6.1-15.8H748%0A%09%09l-7.4%2C23c0%2C0.3%2C0.1%2C0.5%2C0.3%2C0.7c5.3%2C6%2C8%2C12.6%2C8%2C19.5v104.5c0%2C3.7-0.3%2C8-0.8%2C13c-0.7%2C5.3-3.3%2C10.5-7.8%2C15.6c0%2C0.4%2C1.3%2C4.5%2C3.9%2C12.3%0A%09%09c2.3%2C7.5%2C3.6%2C11.3%2C3.9%2C11.3h33.6l7.7-23.7c-3.4-4.2-5.6-7.7-6.6-10.6c-1.3-2.7-2-8.5-2-17.4V79.8h0.1%0A%09%09c20.1%2C52.5%2C33.6%2C87.6%2C40.6%2C105.4c3.6%2C9.9%2C5.5%2C14.8%2C5.7%2C14.8h36.1l7.5-23.2c-1-1.1-2.3-2.8-3.9-5c-2.7-5-4-8.9-4-11.6V41.6%0A%09%09C863%2C40.3%2C863.4%2C38.4%2C864%2C36z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M897.9%2C3.2c-0.6%2C0.8-7.8%2C14.7-21.6%2C41.5c0%2C0.1%2C0.4%2C0.5%2C1.1%2C1.1c8.9%2C5.2%2C14.8%2C8.7%2C17.6%2C10.6h0.3%0A%09%09c2.8-4.2%2C6.3-8.4%2C10.5-12.7c6.8-5.9%2C13.9-8.8%2C21.2-8.8h11v121.8c0%2C7-2.7%2C13.4-8.1%2C19.4c1.9%2C6.1%2C3.2%2C10.1%2C3.9%2C12%0A%09%09c2.3%2C7.9%2C3.6%2C11.9%2C3.9%2C11.9h32.5l0.1-0.1c0.4-0.7%2C2.9-8.6%2C7.7-23.6c-5.4-6.2-8.1-12.7-8.1-19.5V34.9h11c3.7%2C0%2C7.6%2C0.9%2C11.6%2C2.7%0A%09%09c3.1%2C1%2C6.6%2C3.4%2C10.5%2C7.1c3.7%2C3.7%2C6.9%2C7.6%2C9.6%2C11.7c0.4%2C0%2C6.7-3.9%2C19-11.6c-13.8-26.8-21-40.7-21.6-41.6H897.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M1101.3%2C32.5c5.1%2C0%2C10.4%2C1.5%2C15.9%2C4.6c2.1%2C1.5%2C4.2%2C3.1%2C6.1%2C4.7c3.8%2C3.9%2C7.3%2C8%2C10.3%2C12.4%0A%09%09c0.7-0.2%2C7-4.1%2C19.1-11.7c-10.9-21-16.5-31.9-16.9-32.5c-3-6-4.7-9.3-5.2-9.6h-58.5c-6.1%2C0-15.9%2C0-29.2-0.1l-7.4%2C23%0A%09%09c0%2C0.2%2C0.1%2C0.4%2C0.4%2C0.6c5.2%2C6%2C7.8%2C12.6%2C7.8%2C19.5v114c0%2C2.7-0.6%2C5.7-1.8%2C9.1c-1%2C3.2-3.2%2C6.6-6.4%2C10.3c2.4%2C8%2C4.4%2C14%2C5.9%2C18%0A%09%09c0.9%2C3.4%2C1.5%2C5.2%2C1.8%2C5.2h44.1c10%2C0%2C24.5%2C0%2C43.4-0.1l21.9-42c0-0.2-0.5-0.6-1.4-1.1c-8.7-5.3-14.6-8.9-17.6-10.9l-3.8%2C4.9%0A%09%09c-2.1%2C3.2-5.6%2C6.7-10.3%2C10.7c-6.1%2C4.2-12.2%2C6.3-18.1%2C6.3h-25.4c0.1-17.7%2C0.1-31.4%2C0.1-41.3v-9.9h35.6l0.1-0.1%0A%09%09c-3.4-15.7-5.2-23.6-5.3-23.6c-1.1-5.8-1.8-8.7-2.1-8.7h-28.3c-0.1-15.2-0.1-26.8-0.1-35V32.5H1101.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M1278.3%2C89.5c0-0.1-0.2-0.3-0.6-0.7c-2.9-1.9-4.3-5.3-4.3-10.3V74c0-7%2C0.1-18.3%2C0.3-33.9c0-4.8%2C2.3-10%2C7-15.4%0A%09%09c-0.3-0.3-10-7.9-29.3-22.7h-87.2l-0.1%2C0.1c-4.9%2C15-7.4%2C22.7-7.4%2C23c5.4%2C6.1%2C8.1%2C12.7%2C8.1%2C19.5v112.8c0%2C6.9-2.7%2C13.4-8.1%2C19.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C1.9%2C1.9%2C6.4%2C4.3%2C13.7c1.9%2C6.2%2C2.9%2C9.4%2C3.2%2C9.4h33.4l7.5-22.9c-1.5-1.6-2.8-3.2-3.9-4.9c-2.9-5-4.3-9.7-4.3-14.1v-41h16.1%0A%09%09l14.5%2C37.4c4.3%2C10.2%2C6.4%2C16.6%2C6.4%2C19.1v1.1c0%2C1.9-0.6%2C3.7-1.7%2C5.6c0%2C0.4%2C0.3%2C1.1%2C1%2C2.1c4.8%2C8.9%2C8.1%2C14.8%2C9.9%2C17.6h32.5%0A%09%09c0.1-0.7%2C1-8.4%2C2.7-23.2c-6-3.3-10.7-8.5-14.1-15.4c-1.8-4.2-7.4-18.5-16.7-42.8C1247.3%2C118.5%2C1257.6%2C108.8%2C1278.3%2C89.5z%0A%09%09%20M1241.4%2C75.1c-2.6%2C2.7-5.9%2C6-9.8%2C9.8h-34.9V33.6h34.8c3.5%2C3.4%2C6.8%2C6.8%2C9.9%2C10V75.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Pirates' latest roster move is an attempt to revamp bullpen for 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates have just nine games remaining and are once again set to miss the postseason, but they aren't done making roster moves.
After designating right-hander Jake Woodford for assignment following his spot start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Pittsburgh selected the contract of right-handed relief pitcher Isaac Mattson. The move marks Mattson's return to the big leagues for the first time since 2021, when he allowed three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings over four appearances – the entirety of his Major League experience – for the Baltimore Orioles.
Mattson signed a minor league deal with the Pirates coming into the 2024 season and has had a solid year down on the farm. Over 71 innings between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, he has pitched to a 3.17 ERA and 29.8% strikeout rate.
Mattson was also named Pitcher of the Year for Triple-A Indianapolis after posting a record of 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 29 games. He will joint the Pirates' bullpen for the final stretch of the season and likely pitch in middle relief.
Our 2024 Pitcher of the Year, Isaac Mattson, was recognized at PNC Park today as our recipient for the @Pirates Community Commitment Award.
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) September 15, 2024
Congratulations, @IG_Mattson! pic.twitter.com/bkmKlgnozI
Pirates' latest roster move is an attempt to revamp bullpen for 2025
In addition to adding a fresh arm to their bullpen in Mattson, the Pirates will likely also be auditioning the right-hander to see if he could be a future piece for them heading into the offseason.
Once believed to be an area of strength heading into spring training, the bullpen has now become a weak link for Pittsburgh. Relief pitching is one of the greatest areas of need for the Pirates to address this winter, as their 2024 bullpen has been riddled with injuries, command issues, inefficient performances and late-game meltdowns.
In addition to walking the sixth-most batters (238), Pirates relievers have surrendered the ninth-most hits (524) as well as the fourth-most runs (317) among bullpens in all of Major League Baseball this season. Even if Mattson does prove to be a key piece for this team moving forward, Pittsburgh will still be extremely wise to invest in some higher-quality bullpen arms this offseason.
More Pirates content from Rum Bunter
manual