The Pirates announced some roster moves ahead of today’s doubleheader, including the previously reported selection of Luis Ortiz. They also recalled catcher/first baseman Zack Collins and optioned infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano. To open a spot for Ortiz on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Bligh Madris has been designated for assignment.
Madris, 26, was a ninth-round selection of the Pirates in 2017. Though he was never atop any prospect lists, he still posted solid results as he worked his way up the minor league ladder. Last year, he split his time between Double-A and Triple-A and registered a solid 11.2% walk rate along with an 18.2% strikeout rate. That helped him produce a batting line of .267/.353/.417 in 114 games, good enough for a wRC+ of 108.
This year, he got out to a hot start in Triple-A and got selected to the big league roster in June. He hasn’t been able to produce much at the big league level just yet, hitting .177/.244/.265, though that’s in a small sample of just 123 plate appearances. He’s spent more time this year with Indianapolis, hitting .294/.366/.482 over 288 trips to the plate. That amounts to a 125 wRC+, or production 25% above league average.
Since Madris was first selected to an MLB roster just this year, that means he has a full slate of options and limited service time. With the trade deadline long gone, the Pirates will have to place him on waivers in the coming days. Any team intrigued by his ability to get on base could put in a claim and keep him around as an optionable depth option with years of club control. If he were to clear waivers, the Pirates could keep him in the organization with him occupying a roster spot.
countdown until Madris is playing for the Rays and batting 4th….
and probably being the new Josh Hamilton…
Looks like you win.
I don’t understand. If he has a full slate of options and limited service time, why can’t he simply be sent back down to the minors?
cause they don’t want to keep him on 40 man roster. a claiming team can option him but would need to keep him on their 40
Somehow this guy gets cut in a 40-man roster crunch, but Tampa has like 61 guys on their 40-man roster? Why can’t the Bucs manipulate the system to keep Madris?
They needed a 40 man spot for Ortiz who is coming up to start game 2 today.
He’s 26 years old, should have been called up prior to this year and doesn’t fit into their long range plans.
Historically, corner infielders hit for power, unfortunately this team’s corner infielders including when Madris played first base, he lacked any power
Personally, I’m glad he’s gone
I dunno. I guess he wasn’t part of what they’ve been touting as the loaded minor league system. But since I’m not overly impressed by any of the guys they’ve called up so far, seems a little strange they jettisoned the guy at this point. Yeah, he’s 26 and all, but here’s a team that stood by VanMeter for a longer period
And with apparently no one coming up through the minors to play 1st anytime soon, seems odd
Madris isn’t a natural first baseman to begin with, Cherington said yesterday that they would be pursuing available free agents this upcoming off season to plug areas of immediate need. My guess they’ll be looking at first baseman
Agreed, of course. Here again, “instruction” seems to be a no-go in the organization. Not sure what the idea of “player development” means here
And the idea of signing a free agent doesn’t conjure visions of a Freddie Freeman type , does it?
more like digging in the dumpster for the cheapest first baseman at the end of spring training
Maybe resign Van Meter
Thanks for the help, I understand.
I like Madris, but I understand the DFA. He’s not really a prospect and his ceiling is a platoon OF/1B option.
They were going to need to put Ortiz on the 40 man or risk losing him to Rule 5 this off-season anyway. He has a lot more upside than Madris anyway.
Bligh should be the Pirate captain.
No you should
I have spent too many decades rooting for the Phillies to switch to their traditional intrastate rivals. That would be mutiny!
It was Darryl Strawberry!
Well bligh me down Popeye
If Bligh goes down, bring Brutus up…
Olive can Oyl the bats…
To be fair it takes one to know one so maybe Bligh should be one.
And possibly name Ralph Garr manager?
Wasn’t any good anyways.
Bye Bligh.
Looks like you are calling up one of those prospects I was asking about the other day. How is my word salad today?
He was solid for the first 10 games. Brutal afterwards.
If memory serves, he went through an 0-26 before being sent back to Indy earlier
Do I detect an Iron Chef afficionado?
DFA VanMeter
Given his AAA numbers and options available, he could still prove himself. Only time will tell.