The Pirates have designated left-handed reliever Genesis Cabrera for assignment, manager Don Kelly tells the team’s beat (link via Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). That’ll be the corresponding move to open a 26-man roster spot for righty Johan Oviedo, who’ll make his first major league start in nearly two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the 2023-24 offseason.
Pittsburgh signed the 28-year-old Cabrera to a major league contract back in June. He’d opened the year on a minor league deal with the Mets, was added to the roster and was subsequently designated for assignment. The Cubs signed Cabrera to a big league deal shortly thereafter, and a similar sequence played out as he was designated, became a free agent, and signed a big league deal with the Buccos.
In 28 innings this season, Cabrera has pitched to a 5.79 ERA. That includes a 4.91 earned run average in 11 innings as a Pirate. Cabrera yielded six runs on a dozen hits and a walk with seven strikeouts during his five to six weeks in Kelly’s bullpen.
The hard-throwing Cabrera has been erratic in his career, but the bottom-line results in 303 2/3 big league frames are decent. He sports a lifetime 4.06 ERA in the majors, and his 22.1% strikeout rate isn’t too far shy of league-average for a reliever. Cabrera’s 10.9% walk rate is high but not quite egregiously so. He’s typically posted above-average swinging-strike rates and slightly below-average ground-ball rates.
Cabrera will now head to either outright waivers or release waivers. Since the trade deadline has come and gone, there’s no alternative for the Bucs to explore. He’ll be made available to the league’s other 29 times in reverse order of leaguewide standings.
As for Oviedo, he’ll finally get back on a big league mound and hope to seize a rotation spot. The former Cardinals prospect had done just that prior to his injury, tossing 233 2/3 innings of 4.03 ball from 2022-23. That includes a career-high 177 2/3 innings in 2023, when he logged a respectable 4.31 ERA. Oviedo typically sits 95-97 mph with his fastball. Both his strikeout and walk rates have been a bit worse than average, but he’s been adept at dodging hard contact and keeping the ball in the yard. He ought to get a real look down the stretch, and Pittsburgh controls him for an additional two seasons via arbirtation.
Good luck to JO. Sorry it took this long to get back
Cabrera is out of options so he’s probably gone for good
So much talent, so little brain!
Genesis had a revelation?
He definitely felt in the air.
Nah, just making an Exodus
Come on home Genesis, we have innings that need covered. The results don’t matter very much. Also, best of luck Johan Oviedo, the world needs another former Cardinal success story.
I’m not opposed. The guy is hot and cold but we’re out of it and need someone to eat innings. He’s good when he does get hot.
Innings to be covered is why I thought they should have kept Fedde and moved him to the bullpen when the inevitable trades were made.
C’mon man. How many chances does one person need!
What could it hurt? No real LH reliever on the horizon. Unless you want use Matthews. But why start that clock Unless it’s in the rotation.
I was thinking the same, but I doubt they will pick him up. As for Oviedo yep… thats all they need lol. Certainly has tarnished Mozeliak legacy everyone going elsewhere and succeeding. Including Mike Shildt… pfft “philosophical differences”
Perhaps they will sign his younger brother Nintendo 64 Cabrera ?
What about his cousin, Saturn Cabrera?
he keeps tipping his pitches
Read Madden’s column in today’s Trib. 100% right about this pathetic franchise and carpetbagging owner. The less attention paid to this team, the better
Ken Rosenthal today said that the writing is on the wall that Cherington will be fired at the end of the season
Though Nutting agreed to the trades at the deadline, when Ben admitted afterwards that he was offered a top prospect in the Bednar deal and refused the offer, it infuriated Nutting
Plus after 6 years, there’s been no improvement
I also read that they have been trying to work out a deal to extend Skenes for 6 years
I’m at a loss as to why Skenes would sign an extension here. I don’t believe he’s a stupid young man and don’t believe there’s an explanation that would convince him that this franchise will ever even be respectable with this ownership
In other words, they can “try” all they like
I didn’t say that they would be successful, just that they are trying.
Can you explain why
Kelly puts Cruz in the clean up position when he strikes out so often?
He’s currently 0 for his last 12 plate appearances with 7 strikeouts.
I just don’t understand management’s logic
No, I wasn’t intimating that you were of the belief the signing efforts would be successful. Just wondering why Skenes would even contemplate it
As for Kelly, he’s throwing anything against the wall these days
If he signed an extension, he sign for the same reasons that other players sign for. One, get to the “big” money faster. Next year he will still make less than a million. With an extension, he could make considerably more next year and probably for each of his arbitration years. Big money now or bigger money later? Two, with an extension, the total money for the arbitration years and first year of free agency could exceed significantly what arbitration and that first year would bring in without an extension. Three, security. Currently, none of his arbitration years are guaranteed. A crippling injury could end his career and the gravy train. With an extension, money is guaranteed. Play it safe or gamble? No matter what he decides, barring injury, he will have more money than anyone really needs.
I have no idea if he will sign an extension, but if he does that does not mean he is stupid.
Good points, all. And normally, any of these points would be considerations
But the thing that strikes me is that he’s a pretty smart guy, who’s with a pretty smart and successful woman who is doing quite well in her own right. I look at guaranteed money as being the big factor here because while I love my hometown, he surely can achieve greater fame, fortune and MLB success elsewhere
I read another article today that says the same thing.
That they are working with Skenes on an extension
Always the same, it’s just a shame, that’s all.
There must be some misunderstanding.
You were late
Yesterday it was Noah (Syndergaard) getting released, and today it’s Genesis. Jason Adam had better watch out.
Looks like they rushed Oviedo back. He was not sharp at all. Only one start at AAA. I would think 3 to 5 would be more appropriate.
It is not like we are in a pennant race or something.
If Cherington owned a gun he would shoot himself in the foot.
Cherington doesn’t need a gun, his foot gets shot often from making ridiculous decisions
Oviedo wasn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last
i
That Priester trade looks worse every start. It beats giving away Baz and Glasnow by his predecessor.
And yet, by contrast, Huntington was a genius in comparison. TheMan3 offered a snippet yesterday that tended to let Nutting off the hook in Cherington’s recent dealings but truly, he is the biggest problem with this franchise
Starkey wishes to absolve ticket buyers in his column today. I’ll stick with Madden from yesterday.
I’m an idiot for even posting about this franchise
Priester is now 11-3
I was only repeating what I heard about Nutting being dissatisfied with the return for Bednar after Ben admitted after the trade that he was offered a top prospect and turned it down
And again, I’m not taking you to task personally. Not shooting the messenger.
It’s funny to me that the report said he was dissatisfied. On the contrary, the money poured back into his pocket made that feeling a quick memory
Logan Webb is pitching for the Giants tonight
Last week against Pittsburgh he struck out 11 Pirates in 5 innings
So whose in tonight’s lineup for Pittsburgh?
Players who will give Webb another double digit strike out performance
Reynolds is 0 for his last 15 plate appearances
Henry Davis is 4 for his last 45 plate appearances
Cruz who is 1 for his last 12 plate appearances including 7 strikeouts
Bring up the AAA players and cut bait on free agents and make the rest of the non performers sit on the bench and watch