The Pirates have announced that outfielder Xavier Paul and catcher Eric Fryer have been designated for assignment. As noted by MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch, Paul can't be outrighted to Triple-A, so he'll become a free agent if he clears waivers. In corresponding moves, the Pirates added six players to their 40-man roster today to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 draft.
Paul was picked up on waivers from the Dodgers in April and posted a .254/.293/.349 line in 251 plate appeaarances for Pittsburgh last season. Fryer, 26, has a career .799 OPS in the minors and he recorded his first 29 Major League at-bats with the Bucs last year.
