2:18PM: The Pirates have formally introduced the collection of Skenes’ contract and the opposite transactions. Hayes’ IL designation is listed as low again irritation.
12:53PM: Pirates GM Ben Cherington introduced to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Evaluate (hyperlinks to X) and different reporters that right-hander Roansy Contreras has been designated for project. This transfer opens up a roster spot for Paul Skenes, because the star prospect is set to make his Main League debut in in the present day’s recreation in opposition to the Cubs. Cherington additionally revealed that third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has been positioned on the 10-day injured record on account of a nasty again, and infielder Alika Williams has been known as up from Triple-A to take Hayes’ spot on the energetic roster.
It wasn’t way back that Contreras was a notable prospect in his personal proper, checking into the again finish of top-100 lists from Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, and MLB Pipeline previous to the 2022 season. Acquired from the Yankees as a part of the four-player return within the Jameson Taillon commerce within the 2020-21 offseason, Contreras elevated his inventory in his first season in Pittsburgh’s farm system, culminating in reaching the large leagues for one recreation earlier than the 2021 marketing campaign was over. The righty then posted a 3.79 ERA in 95 innings (beginning 18 of 21 video games) in 2022, and appeared like a promising constructing block inside the Pirates’ rotation heading into 2023.
Sadly, issues then went south for Contreras throughout a disastrous season. He posted a 6.59 ERA over 68 1/3 MLB innings, and first misplaced his rotation job with a demotion to the bullpen, after which was optioned again to Triple-A altogether and didn’t pitch once more within the majors after July 5. The transfer to Triple-A didn’t get Contreras on observe, as he had a 4.96 ERA over 32 2/3 frames for Indianapolis. Contreras additionally spent a while going totally again to the drafting board with the Pirates’ Advanced League staff, making an attempt to work out the mechanical issues that led to such points a drop in his strikeout charge, a rise in his stroll charge, and a minor velocity drop on his fastball.
Pitching out of the Pittsburgh bullpen this season, Contreras’ bottom-line numbers improved to the tune of a 4.41 ERA in 16 1/3 innings, and his strikeout charge rose from 18.2% in 2023 to 21.6% this 12 months. It nonetheless isn’t precisely an attention-grabbing set of outcomes, and the Pirates have seen sufficient to really feel snug in presumably shedding Contreras to the waiver wire. Whereas the righty is out of minor league choices and thus needed to be DFA’ed with a view to be despatched to Triple-A, it nonetheless counts as a little bit of a shock to see the Bucs doubtlessly transfer on from a 24-year-old who confirmed such potential as just lately as 2022. Odds are that Contreras shall be claimed away for nothing until the Pirates can get some type of commerce return from a very staff earlier than the tip of Contreras’ DFA interval.
Skenes’ first style of the majors will come with out the posh of the sport’s finest defensive third baseman behind him. Hayes hasn’t performed since Might 7 and he’s solely 2-for-26 in his final seven video games, dropping his slash line to .240/.322/.318 over 149 plate appearances for the season. Hayes has solely hit one dwelling run after he hit 15 taters in 2023, and his Remoted Energy complete of .078 is lower than half of his .182 ISO from final 12 months.
Whereas Hayes has each elevated his stroll charge and diminished his strikeouts, it’s truthful to marvel if his again downside is the reason for these offensive struggles. Hayes solely had a 101 wRC+ in 2023, however getting even league-average offense from such an elite defender makes Hayes a really useful participant. Talking of glovework, a -9.1 UZR/150 for Hayes this season is probably the larger purple flag that he isn’t bodily proper, even when different defensive metrics (+2 Outs Above Common, +3 Defensive Runs Saved) nonetheless have a constructive view of Hayes’ protection.
Jared Triolo is the one different Pirate to get any time at third base apart from Hayes this season, so Triolo may very well be shifted from his regular second base spot over to the new nook whereas Hayes is sidelined. This may make Williams and Nick Gonzales the highest choices for second base, leaving the Bucs fairly skinny on the infield. Llover Peguero and Ji Hwan Bae are on the 40-man roster and may very well be known as up extra simply from Triple-A if a necessity develops, or the Pirates might look to acquire extra skilled infield assistance on the open market or by way of a minor commerce.