PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates made two interesting decisions to complement a pair of expected decisions ahead of the non-tender deadline on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh tendered contracts to outfielder Bryan Reynolds and reliever Chris Stratton ahead of the 8 p.m. ET cutoff, keeping two of the most productive Bucs in the fold. The only player who they did not tender a contract to was right-hander Chad Kuhl, one of the most veteran Pirates remaining on the restructured team.

In addition, Kevin Newman -- one of the top candidates for a non-tender decision after scuffling at the plate in 2020-21 -- agreed to a one-year deal, the club announced. A source told MLB.com the contract is worth $1.95 million.

Kuhl, whom the Pirates selected in the ninth round of the 2013 Draft, recorded a 4.43 ERA as a starter in 2021, his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in ¡®18. That included a two-month stretch from May 31 to July 29 with a 3.86 ERA, a span during which he went into the sixth inning in six of those 10 starts.

However, after a stint on the COVID IL late in the season, the Pirates stuck him in the bullpen beginning on Aug. 21 to get his arm back in shape. That didn¡¯t fare well for his stat line -- he recorded a 6.75 ERA in 14 relief appearances -- and he didn¡¯t get another shot to start.

The Pirates acquired Zach Thompson from the Marlins in their package for catcher Jacob Stallings, and Thompson fits the role Kuhl held with Pittsburgh -- a starter/piggyback guy who can cover innings.?

¡°He's been honest and we've had really good conversations with him about his desire to start,¡± GM Ben Cherington said of Kuhl. "We just felt like at this particular time it was best for him and all of us to give him a chance to get into free agency and see what happens for him there."

The move to tender a contract to Newman is somewhat surprising when one looks at his results last season. Newman ended the first half with a .210 batting average and a .525 OPS, and despite a near return to form from mid-August to mid-September, he only increased those numbers to .226 and .574 by the close of the campaign.

However, even with a crowded list of middle infielders on the 40-man roster, Newman¡¯s great defense in 2021, which led to him being an NL Gold Glove Award finalist at shortstop, is prized by the Pirates. On a one-year deal, he could likely be a bridge player until some of Pittsburgh¡¯s top shortstop prospects are ready for everyday reps, and the Bucs would like to see the former first-rounder get back to the hitting ability he showed in ¡®19, when he batted .308 as a rookie.

¡°When players can do certain things really well, sometimes all it takes is just a little improvement in other things to make them a much more complete player,¡± said Cherington, who added that shortstop and second base will be an open competition. ¡°He does some things already really well that give him a solid floor as a player.¡±

Reynolds -- a 2021 All-Star and NL Gold Glove Award finalist -- being tendered a contract is the furthest thing from a shock. The center fielder hit .302 with 35 doubles, an MLB-leading eight triples and 24 homers in 159 games, showcasing his raw hitting skills, power potential and durability day in and day out.

Stratton became one of the Pirates¡¯ closing options by season¡¯s end, but he provided for the team in long relief and other leverage roles, too. The right-hander recorded a 3.63 ERA with eight saves -- including a 3 2/3-inning save -- in 68 appearances in 2021.

The Pirates¡¯ 40-man roster is now at 39 players.