The Pirates have claimed infielder Ildemaro Vargas off waivers from the Cubs. Outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. has been designated for assignment to create room for Vargas on Pittsburgh’s active roster.
Chicago DFA’ed Vargas on Saturday, after the 29-year-old hit .143/.250/.238 over 24 plate appearances this season. Vargas came to the Cubs via a waiver claim off the Diamondbacks roster last September, and this is the second time he has been designated for assignment by the team — Vargas cleared waivers in April and was outrighted to the Cubs’ alternate training site.
This time, however, Vargas found a home with a new team, joining a Pirates squad in search of depth. With Ke’Bryan Hayes, Colin Moran, and Phillip Evans all on the injured list, Vargas can add some versatility to the bench. Vargas has mostly played second base over his five MLB seasons, but he has experience all over the infield, and has also made a couple of appearances as a corner outfielder. This multi-positional flexibility has been Vargas’ calling card rather than his bat, since he has hit only .246/.280/.380 in 322 career PA with the D’Backs, Twins, and Cubs.
Stokes also joined the Pirates through the waiver wire, as the Bucs claimed the outfielder off the Tigers’ roster back in January. Like Vargas, Stokes already has one DFA under his belt in 2021, as the Pirates designated and outrighted Stokes not long after acquiring him from Detroit. Originally a fourth-round pick for the Brewers back in 2014, Stokes made his Major League debut this season, hitting .111/.200/.167 in 20 PA over eight games with Pittsburgh.
Come back to Baltimore, Troy
i would love troy in Baltimore, drop Valaika for space
Back?
Dude went to Calvert Hall
As did I. Wish Troy the best. OF situation is pretty cluttered in Baltimore though. I don’t know if this would be his best landing spot. Remaining in the Pittsburgh org. Might be.
One piece of junk for another
With all due luck Troy will clear and head back to Indy and be OF depth again for th3e rest of the season. None of these deals makes much difference this season. As soon as a minor leaguer with upside proves that they are ready to go in the bigs ,the players like these will cease to be as necessary . Right now, non of these guys are blocking anyone at the major league level or AAA. As soon as a AA guy is ready to be promoted to AAA, these guys will be gone one by one.
The Pirates are accumulating quite the collection of DFA’d outfielders: Alford, Fowler, Owen and now maybe Stokes too.
Vargas had a decent season a couple years back… low risk for the revolving door DFA’s in Pittsburgh.
Gee, he didn’t hit in 24 plate appearances. Stick a fork in him. Hope he gets another chance, but if not, he played in the Bigs!!! Not many can say that!
They gave Owen 5 plate appearances and then sent him down. Sure 3 were Ks but they have a quick hook. Why bother bringing him up? Now I know the origin of the phrase a “cup of coffee”. He had to order his food to go. LOL
So they stick with Tom in left who has shown nothing and DFA Stokes who looked to have more upside. How long until this manager and coaches are on their way out? Very poor judgement in a lot of games even though I understand he hasn’t been given much in terms of players. Let the rebuild begin and play the young guys in the minors.
They probably think they can get stokes to their minors.
Tom was a rule 5, so if they sent him down they lose him
Someone once posted recently that the Pirates were rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.
I thought that was funny and it sounds appropriate here again.
Troy Stokes DFA by DET then PIT.
I saw ildemaro Vargas a couple years ago at 2B in ARI. He played well enough to be a starter. His batting numbers went way down when he didn’t play regularly.
As a Cubs fan, I can’t WAIT to face him as a Pirate.
I think the Pirates would also be eager to face Cub fans.
Revolving door of housecleaning.
For the first time, in a LONG time…The Pirates are simply “throwing whatever they can at the wall…seeing what sticks…and getting rid of the scrap, as it emerges and reveals itself.
Does no harm to snag a guy off the DFA wire, and see if he can play.
So long as he is UNDER 27. (All scrap OVER that age? On a Pirates Team…that will get worse…much worse…before it gets better…must go).
Pirates are simply “treading water” and letting the pitchers…pitch.
This team is going to and will/should finish…DEAD LAST.
But their pitching has not been bad. (Which is weird for a Pirates team. As they have NEVER had “good reliable pitching”…never…even when they were half way decent. Sure, they had 1 starter here or there…but NOTHING resembling a bona fide pitching staff).
Therefore…no matter what scrub they sign to play in the field (no matter…they ain’t hitting anyway)…just fill the position. For now.
And let every single arm rack up innings pitched. Learn the league. Learn HOW to pitch.
Doesn’t matter if the Pirates hit .100 as a team the rest of the way or .300 the rest of the way.
They will finish…DEAD LAST.
But with a clean slate. Gotta dump off PLUNKO and RICH ROD and FRAZIER and REYNOLDS and CAHILL soon. But that should bring back…MORE PITCHING.
Miles and miles of young arms. Load up on em so much…that (hell…the offense can’t hit anyway)…so stick a PITCHER out there in the outfield. No biggie. Not on this team.
But you want to have a massive overstock of pitching on a REBUILD (complete rebuild) team.
That way…when you find and know the truly-solid 6 or 8 that you need…then you can begin to trade for the bats you want later.
“You got pitching? Then you got a trade”.
And pitchers can always be traded for a bat.
Bats can be bought. Outfielders come a dime a dozen.
But pitchers…ya gotta harness. Develop and continue developing.