The Pirates announced this evening they’ve designated catcher Michael Pérez for assignment. The move clears a 40-man roster spot for outfielder Greg Allen, who has been activated from the 60-day injured list.
It’s not the biggest move of the day for the Bucs, who announced the transaction alongside their trade of designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach to the Mets for reliever Colin Holderman. It does mark a transition behind the plate, though, as Pittsburgh is down to Tyler Heineman and Jason Delay as the two backstops on the 40-man roster. The Bucs lost starting catcher Roberto Pérez to a season-ending hamstring injury in May, selecting Michael Pérez to the majors at the time their primary backstop went down.
It was the second straight season in black and gold for Michael Pérez, but he’s struggled mightily at the plate. After hitting .143/.221/.290 through 70 games last year, he owns a .150/.209/.318 showing this season. Pérez has hit six homers (three of which came in one game against the Brewers last month) in 116 plate appearances, but he’s collected just ten other hits (all singles) over 39 contests.
The Bucs will have a week to trade him or, more likely, run him through waivers. If he passes through unclaimed, Pérez would have the right to refuse an outright assignment in favor of free agency, as he has both surpassed three years of MLB service time and previously been outrighted in his career.
Allen, meanwhile, is finally lined up to make his team debut. Pittsburgh grabbed the switch-hitting outfielder off waivers from the Yankees last winter, but he suffered a left hamstring injury in Spring Training and wound up missing the first three and a half months of the regular season. Once a well-regarded prospect coming up in the Cleveland farm system, Allen has struggled to a .241/.307/.348 line in 666 plate appearances as a big leaguer. The 29-year-old raked at a .326/.442/.465 clip in 73 games with the Yankees’ top affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, however, catching the attention of the Bucs front office.
Power hitting legend.
The bullpen catcher would’ve had better ABs than he had this year.
like most Pirate hitters, Perez had a tendency for swinging at every pitch thrown
I’m a bit high and this read in a David Attenborough voice while I imagined pirates hitters swinging at ridiculous pitches.
Thanks for the visual.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Anyone who actually watches Pirates games can tell you this team watches more strikes, often strike 3, go by without swinging. Just last night, both the #3 & #4 hitters took strike 3 calls with runners on base in 1st inning.
This team suffers from “not” swinging at enough good pitches more than they do at swinging at bad pitches.
Now trade the rest of the journeymen and bring up the kids
Bring up Bae. Give him the damn DH at bats stop wasting him in AAA.
Bring up Bae and Madris and say goodbye to Yoshi and Vandemeter. It’s time to see what Bae can do. I like a platoon at first with Madris and Chavis.
Bae should be returned to the Braves to replace Dansby in 2023.
I’m still bitter about that punishment since Bae was the prospect I was most upset they lost. Kevin Maitan was nothing.
But I am excited to see what Bae can do. Saltiness be damned.
Yeah, it’s time to bring the kids up. Bring up Bae and Madris, DFA Van Meter and Yoshi, trade Gamel and recall Swaggerty. Youth movement should have already started in June imo, but if we at least start doing it this year, sometime, I’ll settle for it.
@mlb1225. Agreed with all of that. I feel like the yoshi signing had to happen but everyone knew he wasn’t going to repeat.
At some point you just have to stop running him out there and accept there won’t be any “righting the ship”. Move on and see what other options can do.
I am not sure what all of the hype is about Swaggerty. Yes he was a #1 pick. But in any minor league season has he hit close to .300. Or had at least 10 home runs. He is highly overrated.
If you DFA VanMeter, who will pitch in the blowout games?
Garbage out, garbage in.
If Delay has a son, he should be careful not to name him Van.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Mets need more catching depth.
Interested in seeing what Allen can do, but the Bucs should definitely bring in the kids for the rest of the season. Not sure why Yoshi continues to get playing time when there’s nothing there.
Because Shelton is a mediocre manager. Needs replaced.
How about Alex Cora??? He’ll be looking for a job soon. There’s also Merlot Joe, who’s watching his old team tank while he’s getting paid.
Alex Cora? Pirates can’t afford the trash cans.
Jason Delay has been a revelation as the potential long-term backup to Davis. Definitely a position of weakness in the organization though, along with 1B.
Yes! He’s going to NYM. Wanted him for catching depth.
@agnt222; nice call!