The Pirates have announced that they have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Beau Sulser. To make room for Sulser on the 40-man roster, outfielder Anthony Alford was designated for assignment. (Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had the news of Sulser’s promotion before the official announcement.)
Sulser, the younger brother of Marlins hurler Cole Sulser, was a 10th round selection of the Pirates in 2017. He’s never gotten a ton of attention from prospect evaluators but has shown well so far in this young season. He got his first taste of Triple-A in 2019, making 24 starts and a pair of relief appearances, putting up a 5.65 ERA in 122 2/3 innings. This year, however, he’s made three starts, logging 12 2/3 innings with a 2.13 ERA. His 26.9% strikeout rate on the young season is greatly improved over the 18.1% rate he had at Triple-A in 2019. He’s also dropped his walk rate from 9.4% to 3.8%. Based on those improved results, the Bucs want to see how he fares against big league hitters. Sulser will turn 28 next month.
Alford, on the other hand, is a former top prospect, getting as high as #25 on Baseball America’s Top 100 list in 2016. Unfortunately, injuries have largely kept him from getting into a good rhythm over the years. He’s appeared in each MLB season from 2017 to 2022 but his career high for games in a season is 49, which he set last year. He was designated for assignment in April last year, clearing waivers and being outrighted to the minors. He showed enough promise to earn his roster spot back and finished well. However, yet another injury, a right wrist sprain, put him back on the injured list to start this season. He was activated and got into two games before being sent into DFA limbo for a second time.
Players who have previously been outrighted in their careers have the ability to reject an outright assignment and declare free agency. If Alford were to clear waivers again, he could opt to see if there are any other opportunities available to him. He’s still only 27 years old and has that prospect pedigree attached to his name, which could potentially lead to some interest, despite the length injury history.
the photo lmao
So they call Alford up a couple days ago and actually have 3 legitimate outfielders on the roster just to dfa him to bring up another pitcher. Yay, more infielders like Tucker and Chavis playing right field. The roster construction this season is absolutely terrible.
Alford cant hit and the team isnt playing for anything anyways. why much care?
If we’re gonna suck, I’d rather it be because the other team is better, rather than because we keep shooting ourself in the foot by putting Tucker and his strange routes to flyballs in the outfield. There’s a difference between being beaten and beating yourself.
reject Alford embrace Madris
You’re team is really in trouble if you’re complaining about losing Alford.
Yea, but that smile and that ENTHUSIASM!! He won’t be around much longer….I hope.
Tucker should be playing shortstop for 50 games to see if he can hit ML pitching.
Shifting these players all around is just stupid and stunts their growth.
Tucker can’t hit MLB pitching no matter if he plays SS, RF, anywhere. Hence his career 57 OPS +….
That may be true but he is a well regarded shortstop who has been blocked by Newman who has proven that he cannot hit ML pitching so what do they have to lose.My point is that when you move a young player like Tucker around so much his fielding and not knowing where he is playing is for sure going to adversely affect his hitting,This regime has never shown any confidence in him and that is going to affect his hitting.All he needs is an extended chance and then they will know for sure what they have.
These guys coming up after him are no guarantees to be any good either so now is the Pirates’ chance to find out for sure about Tucker.
Tucker can’t hit any better than Newman though. Newman was a GG finalist, whether he deserved it or not. There’s just no reason to have hope in either of them. Both were first round picks, both regarded in the same light (actually Newman was a higher pick) Tucker is better off fighting for Ab’s somewhere else. He’s DFA by the end of the year when guys like Cruz comes up, Castillo solidifying himself, and when Mitchell or Suwinski takes the 4th OF. Neither Newman or Tucker will be here come 2023, and we will be better as a team when that happens.
I don’t think it is as simple as you say.
Tucker has been yoyoed far too much.
Cruz will never be a major league shortstop.He just wants to be one.
Tucker is as good or better than Newman at playing shortstop.If he can hit 250 he will be a good one.If one of the other young players proves to be better then they will have a trade chip.
You may very well be right about Tucker but we will have to agree to disagree as to whether he has had a fair chance to show whether he has any potential future as a decent ML hitter.
Many young players have to use their versatility to earn more AB’s. Josh Harrison wasn’t anything more than a guy with high energy until he moved all around the field and made himself need a spot in the lineup. If Tucker wants a chance to play SS daily, he HAS to get the most out of the AB’s he gets, and he doesn’t. Look at Castillo, he’s forcing Shelton’s hand to keep him in the lineup the way he’s been playing. If one more guy does that, Tucker is the obvious odd man out. Even if Cruz isn’t gonna be playing SS, Peguero, Gonzales, and the chance of Cruz shows there’s no hope in Tucker.
They have it backwards.Guys like Sean Rodriguez could play pretty much anywhere.He was a veteran who was called a utilityman.Not everyone can do that.Some are good enough to be starters.SRod was good enough to play multiple positions with almost no drop off.
I saw it will the Phillies.Kingery was a fine minor league player,good enough in their mind to earn a ML contract contract for numerous years.They ruined him by yoyoing him around and expecting him to be “versatile”.
The Pirates put Hoy Park in right field and it was embarrassing to watch.Castillo yesterday was not much better.Marisneck is a true outfielder who knows how to play there.
This is absolutely a stupid thing to do unless the player early on shows a real fortitude to play numerous positions,or he is a veteran who shows versatility like SRod did.
Castillo should be put at second base,and Tucker at shortstop.Newman can give them breaks.Chavez can play at first,second or third.They do not need Van Meter,and Park will never hit ML pitching.
The Pirates need to start formulating the team of the future and this may be about the last year that they can readily do that.
Not a single one of those guys is an actual piece in the future, save for MAYBE Castillo. Marisneck cant hit. Nor can Park, or Van Meter, or Newman, or Tucker.. They’re simply place holders. Sean Rodriguez could never hit, he brought value with a glove (albeit very little) and that’s why he found his way onto a roster/ Which brings me back to, if Tucker can’t hit, and doesn’t offer any positional flexibility why are we even paying him besides to see his much more famous girlfriend maybe at a game once a season..? Michael Chavis is tearing the cover off the ball, you can’t possibly sit him in favor of Castillo. even if the feel good story is nice and all.
Rodriguez hit 260 in 2015 and 2016 before the auto accident ruined his career.Atlanta thought the same thing or they would not have signed him to a big contract to play second base.
He did a good job at every position that he played,and was worth two players,especially after the clowns they had in 2014.
My point is Castillo,Tucker,and Chavis need to play and only one or two positions to determine whether they can hit.There are no posters on here who can accurately predict that.
Playing defense doesn’t make you hit. There’s absolutely zero correlation. In 2019 Tucker only played SS. He hit .211….. It doesn’t matter where you put the guy, opposing pitchers love pitching to him. He can’t hit. At all. It’s time to give up on him. If Castillo only plays 2b he’s not valuable he needs to be versatile to stick around. Just like Rodriguez, if you don’t hit you have to have some value, and his was he could get by almost across the diamond. Tucker can’t get by playing anything other than SS, and he’s not a good enough player to warrant a roster spot, even on a rebuilding Pirates team. There’s at least 5 other guys who should be getting his AB’s, and Cherington will realize that sooner than later if he doesn’t already.
Was BIll MAzeroski valuable?How about Roberto Clemente?Did they play more than one position?You don’t want to give these guys a chance to settle in.It is as simple as that.
They could hit….. They weren’t career 47 OPS+ hitters…. Get real that’s not even the same conversation. Clemente had 3000 hits, Tucker isn’t even CLOSE to the defender Maz was. Stop playing stupid. If you CANT HIT and are stuck to ONE POSITION you aren’t valuable at all. Example : Cole Tucker.
You’re playing the same song over and over.
Just because you say someone can’t hit does not mean it is a Newton’s law.
I told you three messages before that we will have to agree to disagree.
I am not spending time with nuttin says nuttin any more.
Losing Alford won’t bother me at all but I expect him to clear waivers anyway. It’s more irritation with the front office for putting together a team that’s 85% middle infielders and middle relievers. Doesn’t bode well for future success if they aren’t even trying to find starters, back end relievers and outfielders that can possibly be a part of a winning team in the future.
Thank you Johnny JuCo
Yea I’m not a fan of the way the Pirates run themselves year to year at all. Here’s hoping they at least have a good long term plan.
First it’s lame to like your own comment. Second this comment shows you have never watched Alford for any period of time with the Pirates. The man is a strikeout machine. Brings nothing to the plate at all
The starting rotation has been absoutley horrid this year. Bullpen has been great, offense hasn’t been awful, and the defense has been good. The rotation has pretty much been the biggest cause for all of the team’s losses so far this year. Maybe Sulser can help things out. He doesn’t have that high of a bar to outperform.
I said last year somewhat jokingly that the Pirates needed four starting pitchers to upgrade their roster, honestly not sure any of their guys would crack the rotation of any other teams. So tired of these guys not being able to make it out of the fifth inning then we have to keep going through so many bullpen arms because they’re all overworked.
Keller has pitched better than his numbers suggest and Quintana hasn’t looked awful either. But Brubaker, Wilson, and Thompson’s starts have been brutal.
I think Pirates made huge mistake letting Chad Kuhl leave. We would have at least 2 wins by a starter if we kept him.
Hindsight is 20-20 but I agree with you and wondered about it when they dropped him.
It is not exactly like they were going to have the Dodgers rotation from 1966.
I think that he was non tendered because of his potential salary but that was being penny wise and pound foolish.
Too many young pitchers.They needed more veterans than Quintana to have a variable rotation.
Derek Shelton has to go….if he’s playing these journeyman veterans on his own, then he needs fired. If he’s being told to play these second rate veterans, then the whole organization needs revaluated from top to bottom. Your rebuilding, these ,no one else wants junk players, need cut loose. Play the kids. Losing 21-0 is embarrassing enough, but with, no one else wants junk players, its ludicrous.
I’m not too happy about how Shelton has been utilizing Diego Castillo. He needs everyday playing time. Yesterday’s game was rough, but it is what it is. 21-0 looks the same as 1-0 in the W/L column.
Not only do I think Castillo needs everyday playing time, I’d like to see him get it at one position. I don’t care how versatile he is, let him get comfortable at one position first, then move him around later if you want.
Guys, Castillo is like 20th on the prospect list. You think he would be pitching if he was a top prospect? He needs to prove his versatility and not be overused. I would think there’s much more to complain about than him.
Seems like they don’t believe in everyday at bats and continue to just play matchups and switch guys in and out of positions, not the right way to develop players.
Here’s the problem they aren’t developing the youngters…they are giving the playing time to,guys no one else wanted,it’s amazingly criminal
I’ve always wondered if they do that in hopes if getting SOME kind of trade value so they can at least move guys like Tucker, etc instead of just DFA-ing dudes.
I agree that Shelton isn’t much of a manager and does a lot of strange things. And yet, I can’t imagine any manager winning accolades with this assortment—maybe a guy who not only manages but teaches and develops talent, as well. Not many of those guys around anymore
Like the fact that Alford got shown the door couldn’t do much of anything and I say give kids like madris a chance if it’s earned sublet isn’t another teams reject he’s a pirate draft pick and was starter so maybe give him few starts in rotation Thompson was awful yesterday but so was everyone seemed looking g @ the pitch # they were wild IN STRIKE ZONE. Should be an eazy fix
It’s time to give Cal Mitchell the promotion. He’s demolished Triple-A pitching so far in the small sample size. Plus Jack Suwinski deserves the call-up. Dude did well at Double-A last year. Should’ve started the season at Indy this year.
Point was trying to make is Alford being released is a blessing for the young OFs @indy & Altoona as you said there’s an opening someone step up to claim it .I’m also a Mitchell fan so would luv to see what he can do as well same with Jack
There’s not an opening. 2 less pitchers will be up here in a week. This was their chance for an extra arm for a week before the active goes back to 26 with pitcher max of 13. The clock just struck midnight on alford. Guy was good when he was in a groove, but just awful when he was bad. Unfortunately for him, he just ran out of time. He might have had another week if the starters weren’t so bad and could actually stay in the game for 15 outs. The next DFA or injury will be the opportunity for someone in the minors on the 40 to get a shot.
YES YES YES MITCHELL
I think Swaggerty will get the call first but assume both he and Mitchell will be with Reynolds in the OF by July assuming they are all healthy.
No chance Swaggerty gets called up. He’s hitting .200 and has all of 90 ABs above AA
I’m listening to cherrington on pirate pregame..they are playing Castro at shortstop. He’s been there 12 games. For a team with one of the best farm systems, they are running it like a farmers market.
I’m a lifelong pirate fan 56 years. I’ve run out of patience. And I’ve been supportive of the rebuild. But they are rebuilding with Legos
Dont be hating on Legos. Legos are considered one of the most influential and best toy brands of all time and used far beyond the scope of children and have spawned a generational tool for young minds to grow their creativity.
Seems like trying to give the kids time to EARN a promotion seems like to many fans cry if player promoted before ready and cry if they wait until player shows he’s ready getting AAA experience they cry pick one and stand your ground plz
I think if you have no chance to be competitive at MLB, they should be at AAA until you are 100% sure they are ready. Pretty easy in my mind. The picture becomes murkier if you are on the cusp.
I agree and have to think that the FO is of this mindset. A lot of guys who are on this roster are merely keeping the spot warm for when the kids mature and some of these guys they are already shuttling back and forth to the minors?
Sheesh
Still, it’s almost May and they’re not mathematically eliminated yet
Shelton is an idiot….he can’t let a starter go the qualifying 5 innings. No pirate starter with a win ..I can’t stand this goof
Let me say, from an outside perspective, the Pirates are on the right track. You’ve gotten numerous legit prospects in trades under Cherington and he understands that a small market team like Piit needs to work toward a specific window of opportunity with those prospects. Starting pitching is never easy to accumulate and we all saw how teams scrambled after it this spring. I actually like the Pirates approach; if you lack guys who can give you five good innings but may be able to give you 2-4, then pair them with a few other guys with the same skillset (Crowe/Peters, etc).
No one thinks this team is ready to compete, and while I’m sympathetic to Pirate fans who have to endure subpar baseball, be encouraged that your team has a plan (many don’t) and that you have prospects to look forward to (again, many teams don’t).
Laugh all you want but I can see a path to playoff baseball as soon as 2024. The Cardinals will be in the post Wainwright/Molina era, the Reds are a mess, the Cubs still seem rudderless and Milwaukee is relying on a few good pitchers and being the smartest team in the division, something that may change if Stearns leaves after this year.
Well stated, although 2024 may be a little optimistic
the Pirates need to show a willingness to upgrade their team when and where they need it before they can be pegged as even potential contenders. young talent goes a long way, but you tend to need to bring in some outside help as well.
They will do that once the young players come up and they figure out what they have.
I certainly do not see any mega contracts.Small market teams need to deal around the edges.But if BC is as good as NH they will augment with trades and mid level free agents and possibly a good one under a three year agreement.
They need starting pitching now and the problem is these players are the most vulnerable as the Pirates like most other teams are enamored with 95 mph pitchers who quickly break down physically.