The Pirates announced Wednesday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Tanner Anderson from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez on the 10-day DL with a strained right quadriceps. Right-hander A.J. Schugel was moved from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot.
[Related: Pittsburgh Pirates depth chart]
Anderson, 25, was the Pirates’ 20th-round pick back in the 2015 draft. While he’s never been considered to be among the organization’s very best prospects, he’s steadily risen through the ranks and been a steadily above-average performer along the way. This season in Triple-A has been no exception, as he’s worked to a tidy 2.34 ERA through 34 2/3 innings of relief work.
Anderson has never posted especially impressive strikeout numbers and is averaging just 6.2 whiffs per nine innings pitched in 2018. However, he’s long demonstrated outstanding control and has posted a ground-ball rate of at least 61.3 percent at each minor league stop. The Pirates shifted Anderson from the rotation to a relief role last season, and he’ll carry a gaudy 65.7 percent grounder rate with him to the Pittsburgh bullpen.
As for Rodriguez, the 33-year-old has struggled immensely at the dish in each of the past two seasons. Signed by the Braves a two-year contract in November 2016, Rodriguez suffered a shoulder injury in a car accident later that offseason and wound up missing a significant chunk of the 2017 season. He was traded back to the Pirates last summer, but the early struggles he had in Atlanta carried over to his return trip to the Buccos. Over the past two seasons, Rodriguez is hitting .157/.273/.285 in 290 plate appearances.
SRod should be shown the door not the DL
He’s owed too much but I agree. He was a serviceable bat when he didn’t try to jack everything going back a few years. Defensively he can do it still…..but he rarely makes solid contact anymore.
Even his defense has been bad this year.
Placed on the DL for being utterly atrocious.
Free Kang!
강정호 복귀!!
He made a mistake and is paying for it. He needs to earn his way back. No way they should just hand him a roster spot.
Kang had started to hit in AAA before he hurt his wrist, which he has JUST been put on the DL for.
That shoulder must still be bothering SRod. Shoulders be real complicated…..
Good for Sean.
I figured he would be DFA’d after last Saturday’s Sean Rodriguez Bobble Night.
Who knew!Tanner Anderson?
I thought that the DL was meant to only stash pitchers.
I think that SRod was playing shortstop so much because they had a deal “Brewing” for Jordy Mercer and they did not want him getting hurt.Without Moroff they do not have anyone else to play there.
SRod is not the same ball player anymore and I think even Pirate management has finally realized it.They are usually the last to know.
They need a 40 man roster spot for Newman and a 25 man one for Kang so I think that SRod and Jordy will be the players going.
Jordy is not going anywhere
They need to find playing time at the ML level for Newman and Kang.
I think Mercer has actually done a good job for a reasonably long time but they will favor the younger player and the one with power which they desperately need.
There are several teams who could use a decent shortstop but NH is probably holding out for a relatively high level prospect which he should do.
I hate to see him and SRod go but the Pirates need to move on.
For guys making their debut, maybe you guys could include what college they are from, since you are already including the round. Just a thought.
Nothing wrong with SeanRod that a booster shot of veteranosity can’t cure.