2:18PM: The Pirates have formally introduced the number 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-Overview (links to X) and different reporters that right-hander Roansy Contreras has been designated for task. This transfer opens up a roster spot for Paul Skenes, because the star prospect is set to make his Major League debut in right this moment’s recreation towards the Cubs. Cherington additionally revealed that third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has been positioned on the 10-day injured listing attributable to a foul again, and infielder Alika Williams has been referred to as up from Triple-A to take Hayes’ spot on the lively 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 massive 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 monitor, 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’ Complicated League group, making an attempt to work out the mechanical issues that led to such points a drop in his strikeout price, a rise in his stroll price, 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 price rose from 18.2% in 2023 to 21.6% this yr. 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 to be able to be despatched to Triple-A, it nonetheless counts as a little bit of a shock to see the Bucs probably transfer on from a 24-year-old who confirmed such potential as not too long ago as 2022. Odds are that Contreras might be claimed away for nothing except the Pirates can get some sort of commerce return from a very group earlier than the top of Contreras’ DFA interval.
Skenes’ first style of the majors will come with out the luxurious of the sport’s greatest defensive third baseman behind him. Hayes hasn’t performed since Could 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 residence run after he hit 15 taters in 2023, and his Remoted Energy whole of .078 is lower than half of his .182 ISO from final yr.
Whereas Hayes has each elevated his stroll price and diminished his strikeouts, it’s truthful to marvel if his again drawback 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 worthwhile participant. Talking of glovework, a -9.1 UZR/150 for Hayes this season is maybe the larger crimson flag that he isn’t bodily proper, even when different defensive metrics (+2 Outs Above Common, +3 Defensive Runs Saved) nonetheless have a optimistic view of Hayes’ protection.
Jared Triolo is the one different Pirate to get any time at third base in addition to Hayes this season, so Triolo could possibly be shifted from his typical 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 could possibly be referred to 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 through a minor commerce.
