Pittsburgh Pirates: Four Players Who Won't Return in 2024

These four players will almost assuredly be removed from the Pittsburgh Pirates 40-man roster this offseason

With the 2023 season now completely in the rearview mirror for the Pittsburgh Pirates, attention turns toward the upcoming offseason. During each offseason, every 40-man roster across baseball see changes.

This leads to the question - what changes could the Pirate 40-man roster see this offseason?

Between offseason additions and needing to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft, players come off the 40-man roster early and often throughout the offseason. Sometimes pending free agents can make this easy. For the Pirates, however, this is not the case. Andrew McCutchen, Jarlín García, and Vince Velasquez are all set to become free agents, but due to being on the 60-day injured list none of them are currently on the 40-man roster.

So, which players are going to see their roster spots be in danger? Well, these four players are likely close to being locks to come off the roster and could be the first four to go.

First baseman Alfonso Rivas

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Alfonso Rivas from the San Diego Padres as part of the Rich Hill/Ji-Man Choi trade. Rivas was acquired for one reason, to help at first base for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Well, the 2023 season is now over. Combine this with first base likely being the biggest offseason target for the Pirates other than starting pitching, and Rivas has served his purpose. He has likely run his course in Pittsburgh.

In 459 career PAs in the majors with the Cubs, Padres, and Pirates, Rivas has hit for just a .243/.324/.349 slash line with a wRC+ of 90. Numbers that are below league average and easy to replace.

With the Pirates, the left-handed hitting Rivas had 106 PAs. In these 106 PAs he hit for a .234/.305/.436 slash line with a 97 wRC+. So, slightly better numbers than his career stats but still below league average.

Assuming the Pirates add a first baseman this offseason then there is no longer a need for Rivas on the roster. Even if that does not happen, the Pirates would be better served giving those first base PAs to Jared Triolo in 2024 than Rivas.

Pitcher Osvaldo Bido

Back in May when the Pirates were looking like potential contenders in the NL Central, I said if Osvaldo Bido found himself starting games for the Pirates the team was likely in trouble. Well, shortly after I said that the Pirates found themselves in trouble and with Bido making starts.

The career minor leaguer pitched 50.2 MLB innings in 16 appearances, 9 starts. Bido showed why he was a career minor leaguer at the age of 27 in his 50.2 major league innings, posting a 5.86 ERA and a 4.10 FIP.

Bido allowed 4 home runs and opponents hit .266 against him. He walked 8.9% of batters faced and struck out 20.3% of opposing hitters. Not terrible numbers from Bido but nothing special. Certainly, they're nothing that can't be easily replaced.

Long-reliever/swing-man types like Bido can be found all over the place. The waiver wire, free agency, even throughout the Pirate organization. So, moving on from Bido to create a 40-man roster spot seems like a no brainer move to make this offseason.

Pitcher Cody Bolton

Right-handed pitcher Cody Bolton made his MLB debut with the Pirates this past April. This started a summer that rolled into the fall of Bolton being up and down between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis.

With the Pirates, Bolton pitched 21.1 innings and took his lumps. Bolton posted a 6.33 ERA and a 5.27 FIP. He allowed 30 hits, 3 home runs (1.27 HR/9), walked 14.0% of batters faced, and struck out 20.6% of opposing batters.

Bolton had multiple outings in which he was absolutely blitzed by opposing batters. In many outings he looked like a pitcher that does not belong in the majors. Relievers that bring whaT Bolton brings to the table can be found all over the place. Due to this, the odds of Bolton surviving the offseason on the Pirate 40-man roster are low.