4:03PM: The Pirates have also released outfielder Dustin Fowler. Pittsburgh acquired Fowler in a trade with the A’s during the winter, and the outfielder posted a .434 OPS in 46 PA, marking Fowler’s first bit of big league action since the 2018 season. Fowler was outrighted to Triple-A in April and has since battled injuries for much of the season.
3:18PM: The Pirates selected the contract of outfielder Anthony Alford from Triple-A. In corresponding moves, Phillip Evans was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, while utilityman Erik Gonzalez was designated for assignment (Gonzalez had been on the injured list, and was reinstated before being DFA’ed).
Gonzalez has been out of action since July 2 due to a left oblique strain, and he had been wrapping up a minor league rehab assignment in Triple-A. Now, the 29-year-old could be potentially headed elsewhere after two-plus seasons with the Bucs. Gonzalez has been utilized all over the diamond in his 174 games in a Pittsburgh uniform, but hasn’t hit much, batting only .236/.268/.324 over 578 plate appearances since the start of the 2019 season.
While Gonzalez could remain in the organization after clearing waivers, it seems likely that the rebuilding Pirates want to give more big league playing time to less-experienced players like Alford. The former top prospect isn’t young (he just recently turned 27) but he has yet to earn a long look at the MLB level, appearing in each of the last five seasons but totaling only 62 games.
The Pirates claimed Alford off the Blue Jays roster in August 2020 but the change of scenery hasn’t unlocked anything for the outfielder, who has a .540 OPS in the small sample size of 42 PA with Pittsburgh. At Triple-A, however, Alford has been red hot, hitting .307/.420/.593 with 14 home runs over 226 PA for Indianapolis.
BC starting to move out the garbage now.
Calling another human being garbage is not cool. Besides, he’s a quite acceptable player in a certain role, the team just doesn’t need that role right now.
Softy
I’m usually the first one to call out a commenter for unfair language but I think you’re being a little extreme here. He was using an expression, not making a character assassination.
You are correct. He is not garbage. He is human refuse.
And you are a real idiot
I know you are….but what am I?
I have to agree, no human being is garbage. Alex Cora just made yet another arrogant boneheaded decision that immediately cost the Sox another game. But do I call him garbage? No! He’s forever the Garbage Can Man, but he’s not garbage.
Bang bang!
Erik Gonzalez is 100% garbage
Agreed. But he was Huntington’s darling and continued to get opportunities when he really shouldn’t have. What a mess BC was handed.
Felipe Vazquez says hi.
Your wife says hi
I like all of these moves. Nothing against Gonzalez, he did what he was supposed to do while a Pirate, but Difo does the job just about as well. I don’t mind keeping Evans around as organizational depth but like Gonzalez his at bats should be going to younger guys. And there’s no harm in giving Alford another look, there are at bats to be had in that outfield for sure.
Difo has a little more pop in the bat and has shown that he can produce as a pinch hitter. Can also play in the outfield if needed so he is a little more Versatel.
Difo is indeed an excellent pinch hitter, which is a job that not everyone can do well. I liked the move when they picked up Difo, I knew he could hit a little, and he’s at least adequate in the field.
Good point. Pinch hitting is something most dont do well. He has value as a pinch hitter and utility bench guy. I was a little surprised when he got DFA the first time.
To me, it’s kind of odd that they gave Erik Gonzalez so many chances but haven’t given Cole Tucker even a fraction of chances. Not saying that Tucker will be a heck of a lot better than Gonzalez, but you never know until you try him.
Lol that is because Tucker can’t hit. Come on now. Anybody can see that. Nobody cares how great his defense is if he can’t even hit above 200
I don’t expect Tucker to be good, but why give Gonzalez about 3 seperate seasons to prove himself when Tucker has barely even been given one?
I agree Gonzalez had way too many chances and moving on is the right decision.. However, on Tucker he has been given chances by playing every day in AAA and has hit poorly. I am very comfortable with them saying, young man, show us something and you will come up (current – very brief – hot streak not withstanding). With Castro and Park in the majors with Difo and Newman also there, not sure Tucker has earned another shot.
Gonzalez would be a decent backup infielder for many clubs during this IL season. He strikes out about 7 times more than he walks which gives a low OBP., but his BA is about .240 & he’s good with a glove. Not exactly “garbage” as I see it.
Bang bang
Bringing back Alford? Whats wrong, the lineup doesn’t strikeout enough?
The Pirates actually don’t strike out a ton, they just hit for absolutely no power whatsoever. And in today’s game that just won’t cut it. I’d be more than fine adding a few K’s for any semblance of pop.
About damn time. Polanco, you’re next. You’ve been a great teammate/person, but it’s beyond time to move on.
I think he will be here the rest of the year. They will make him “earn” his money. Bottom line Bob will milk him for every cent. Might be a different story if the OF had anything at all, but that seems to be a weakness for the organization. Plus, they have a lot of injuries there. Some of the prospects may get moved out there, but it wont happen over the next 2 months.
Glad Alford is getting another shot. Snake bitten career for sure…
He’s earned the call up, too. He struggled for the first few weeks after they sent him down in May but since then it looks like he’s been hitting the cover off of the ball. Granted it’s AAA, everyone puts up good offensive numbers, but you still have to earn it.
This all makes sense. Gonzalez very expendable after all the trades for middle infielders. Evans? Belongs at AAA, that is his ceiling, maybe called up if you get some injuries. Alford, deserves another chance, especially since playing time would seem to be up for grabs in the OF. His BABIP is VERY high at AAA, so I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t do squat here. However, I like giving him a 2 month trial, especially since it would seem playing time is available in the outfield.
I’d rather give him ABs over Polanco. Plus, Alford is better on defense.
I think if he proves he can play at somewhat a major league level he will be the RF when Gamel comes back, assuming he does. Right now the whole OF is open for playing time, only Reynolds in CF is a sure thing going forward.
I have always thought that Alford is a late bloomer. He has all the tools to be a very good ballplayer. Since he started to so late in his life playing baseball, he has being playing catch-up all along. Kids playing ball since childhood are 10 years ahead of him.
If he would level out his swing and learn to make contact to all fields he could be a very good ballplayer.
I think Dustin Fowler should be picked up by the Yankees because how it ended with injury before he could get his first at bat. He is a very also he’s good fielder especially in Yankees Stadium. He’s not a starter but he’d be better fielder then Frazier plus left handed hitter!
Honestly you could DFA about 40% of the roster and they would go unclaimed