Injuries & Moves: Infielder Gray designated for assignment
This page will be updated throughout the offseason to track all of the Pirates' moves, along with the progress of any injured players.
LATEST NEWS
Jan. 20: Pirates designate INF Tristan Gray for assignment
The move was made as the Pirates formally added Andrew McCutchen, who signed in December, to the 40-man roster. The Pirates' roster is now full at 40 players.
Gray was claimed off waivers in October and did not appear in a game with the Pirates before being DFA'd. The infielder has appeared in 17 Major League games the last two seasons.
Jan. 17: Pirates acquire RHP Chase Shugart from Boston for Minor League RHP Matt McShane
Shugart, 28, made his Major League debut last season, allowing four earned runs and striking out eight over 8 2/3 innings. He operates with a five-pitch mix: a sweeper, a cutter, a changeup, and a four-seam and a sinking fastball. The sweeper got the most spin of the bunch, averaging over 2,800 rpm in the Majors.
McShane was selected in the 13th round of the 2024 Draft and did not appear in a game with the Pirates.
Jan. 15: Pirates acquire right-hander Brett de Geus from Blue Jays for cash considerations
de Geus, 27, was designated for assignment on Jan. 10. He went a combined 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA over 13 relief appearances in 2024 with Seattle, Miami and Toronto.
He averaged 96.4 mph on his fastball in the Majors, leaning heavily on his sinker. He also has a knuckle-curve, a cutter and a split-finger fastball, which helped him record a 56.9% ground-ball rate in the Minors last season.
INJURY UPDATES
RHP Dauri Moreta (UCL surgery)
Expected return: Mid 2025
Moreta has started to play catch, throwing out to 60 feet, approximately six months after his Tommy John surgery. According to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, he is projected for a return to games in June 2025. (Last updated: Sept. 13)
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (recurrent right forearm injury; Pirates' No. 4 prospect, No. 85 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Ashcraft pitched one inning on Aug. 30 in his first start back from the injured list, but was placed on the injured list the following day. Ashcraft has excelled on the field, but has made three trips to the injured list since June 28, with right elbow inflammation causing him to miss a month and a half from mid-July to late August. (Last updated: Aug. 31)
RHP Hunter Stratton (ruptured left patella tendon)
Expected return: 2025
Stratton underwent surgery to repair his ruptured patella tendon on Aug. 26. The projected return to competition is seven to 10 months. Stratton suffered the injury chasing a loose ball and then sliding into the limestone behind home plate at PNC Park. (Last updated: Aug. 28)