Predicting Pirates' September call-ups thanks to MLB expanded rosters in 2024

September is right around the corner, which means reinforcements are on the way for all 30 MLB teams.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are effectively out of the playoff race, but per MLB rules, they will still have the chance to call up a couple of minor leaguers to add depth to their lineup and pitching staff for the final month of the season.

Pittsburgh has a bottom-10 farm system according to MLB's latest rankings, but there are still some fresh faces – and some familiar ones – who could bolster the Pirates' major league roster down the stretch.

What do MLB expanded rosters look like in 2024?

Beginning Sept. 1, MLB active rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players. As part of the hard cap at 28, teams will also be permitted to carry no more than 14 pitchers. It's not quite as exciting as it used to be, when rosters could expand to include any and all players on the 40-man roster, but it still allows teams to bolster their lineups down the stretch with some reinforcements from the farm.

The current roster expansion rules, which were established under MLB's collective bargaining agreement in 2022, are part of a larger policy aimed at curbing service time manipulation. Prospects already on the 40-man roster have a leg up, so that's where our focus will be for purposes of this discussion.

Predicting Pirates' September call-ups once MLB rosters expand

Position player: Joshua Palacios

The Pirates don't exactly have a wealth of offensive weapons waiting in the wings (or on their 26-man roster, for that matter), but September call-ups could mean the return of an old friend in Joshua Palacios. The 29-year-old outfielder put up a .663 OPS in 20 games with Pittsburgh this season before landing on the injured list with a hamstring injury earlier this month.

Palacios completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, and the Pirates elected to option him there after activating him from the 10-day IL. Palacios was getting regular reps in right field against right-handed pitching before getting injured, but Pittsburgh's addition of Bryan De La Cruz at the trade deadline removed the urgency to add Palacios back to the big-league roster as soon as he completed his rehab assignment. In September, he could rejoin the club in a platoon role with De La Cruz to give Pittsburgh's lineup a boost against right-handers.

Pitcher: Mike Burrows

Mike Burrows was on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues at the start of the 2023 season before Tommy John surgery set him back another year. He is on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster but has yet to make his MLB debut, and September could be the perfect time for him to get a taste of the big leagues.

Burrows has had some struggles with consistency early this season, which is common for pitchers returning from Tommy John. He is still the Pirates' No. 16 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and he could make it to the majors this year as a depth option if he becomes more consistent and effective.

Burrows profiles as a starting pitcher, but his innings are being limited in Triple-A Indianapolis as he continues to rehab from Tommy John. Perhaps he could bring value to the Pirates bullpen down the stretch as a middle reliever, allowing him to go multiple innings, but without the process being too taxing on his arm.

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