The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed a seasoned pitcher and made additional roster adjustments, trimming five players from their major league camp. These cuts include a former first-round pick and a starter from the 2023 Opening Day lineup.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Pirates officially inked left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer to a minor league deal, extending a non-roster invitation to major league training camp. Additionally, they secured contracts with 27 pre-arbitration players for the 2024 season, bringing the total number of players in the major league camp to 50.
Among the adjustments, outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba, who commenced as a right fielder in last year’s season opener against the Cincinnati Reds, and right-handed reliever Colin Selby were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Middle infielder Tsung-Che Cheng was also optioned to Double-A Altoona.
Second baseman Termarr Johnson, the fourth overall pick in 2022, and third baseman Jack Brannigan were reassigned to minor league camp.
Lauer, aged 28, boasts six years of experience and was a first-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 2016 from Kent State. He recently completed four seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, compiling a record of 22-20 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 67 games, including 60 starts. However, he encountered setbacks last season due to a shoulder impingement, finishing with a 4-6 record, a 6.56 ERA, and a 1.67 WHIP in 10 starts.
Smith-Njigba was designated for assignment following the signing of lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman in January and was later claimed by the Seattle Mariners before returning to the Pirates via a waiver claim. In spring training this year, he recorded a .200 batting average with three home runs and five RBIs in 10 Grapefruit League games. Meanwhile, Selby demonstrated a .412 batting average during spring training but struggled with an 11.25 ERA over four innings across four appearances.
Cheng, who joined the 40-man roster in November, tallied a .250 batting average with two homers and three RBIs in 14 games during spring training. Johnson, a 19-year-old top-100 prospect ranked second in the Pirates’ system by MLB Pipeline, showcased impressive performance this spring, batting .368/.429/.737 and becoming the first teenager since Carlos Correa in 2014 to hit two home runs in a spring training game. On the other hand, Brannigan, a former third-round pick ranked as the Pirates’ tenth prospect by MLB Pipeline, struggled with a .059 batting average in 15 games.
Cheng, Brannigan, and Johnson are set to feature in the Pirates’ roster for the Spring Breakout showcase game against the Baltimore Orioles’ top prospects at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.
