The Pirates announced that they have claimed right-hander Dugan Darnell off waivers from the Rockies. He was immediately transferred to the 60-day injured list, so the Bucs didn’t need to open up a 40-man roster spot. In late August, it was reported that Darnell would be undergoing surgery to address a torn labrum in his hip, a procedure with a recovery timeline of about eight months.
There was no previous indication that the Rockies had removed Darnell from their roster. It’s common at this time of year for teams to place players on waivers, as many clubs are facing roster crunches. The 60-day IL goes away five days after the World Series, so players need to retake 40-man roster spots. Some breathing room is created by others reaching free agency but teams often need to clear space. Even if a team doesn’t need space now, having it is valuable throughout the winter for other moves, including protecting guys from the Rule 5 draft.
RosterResource projected the Rockies to have 41 guys for 40 roster spots at the beginning of the offseason, including Darnell. It seems Colorado tried to open a spot by passing Darnell through waivers but the Pirates intervened. The Pirates will face a crunch of their own, as RosterResource projects them to have 42 guys for 40 spots, not including Darnell. The Bucs will therefore have to do some clearing in the coming days.
For now, they are bringing a fresh relief arm into the system. Darnell, 28, was signed by the Rockies as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He got a very limited big league debut this year. He was called up August 1 but then left hip inflammation put him on the IL three weeks later. In that debut, he tossed 11 2/3 innings over nine appearances. He allowed five earned runs on ten hits and seven walks while striking out five.
That’s a small sample of work, so presumably the Bucs are also putting some stock in his minor league track record. He has thrown 255 1/3 innings on the farm with a 3.74 earned run average, 30.6% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate. That includes 53 2/3 Triple-A innings in 2025, pitching in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, with a 3.19 ERA, 28.8% strikeout rate, 8.7% walk rate and 43.5% ground ball rate.
Given Darnell’s surgery timeline, he likely won’t be available until the middle of next year. Perhaps the Bucs will keep him on the 40-man through the winter and then put him on the 60-day IL again once it returns in spring training. It’s also possible the Bucs try to pass him through waivers unclaimed during the offseason, therefore keeping him as non-roster depth.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
Who is making these decisions on the Rockies’ roster without a GM or even asst GM? Monfort?
Yep Walker Monfort at the out of controls.
I thought MLB frowned on teams making moves of this nature on World Series game days? This will steer everyone’s attention from the game now.
If the Pirates claiming an injured rookie reliever away from the Rockies takes ANY attention away from the World Series, then MLB has much more to worry about.
I believe the attention comment was made with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
I agree. So was the response.
Pirates may litterally cut 10 to 12 guys from 40 man , They won’t struggle with adding anyone
Dugan Darnell was great in that movie with that girl who was in that show with that guy who sung that song with that…
It’s the classic story: guy falls in love with girl, girl falls in love with another, guy gets hit by bus.
If it’s set at Christmas it’s likely a Hallmark film.
Pretty unusual for a team to place a player on the 60 day IL in that short space between the regular season and the conclusion of the World Series.
Because it’s the lowly Pirates.
And so it begins. The annual edition of Ben’s Bargain Basement Ballet.
What an inspiring time to be a Pirates fan
These complaints are so over played. BC sucks but every team in MLB is bargain shopping right now.
you’re right, TJECK109, but Cherington makes a habit of it, and ad nauseum
You should want your GM to be bargain hunting, and to be finding good bargains. That is a big part of being a good GM.
LOL. Between you and “TJ” it’s almost hilarious. Apologists for a miserly carpetbagger
Look, and again, NO FAN I KNOW is looking for the Pirates to spend on a level with LA or NY. Ok? Understand? Give it a rest already.
Again, I don’t know of ANY fan who is under such delusions
But this? Year after stinking year? Really? You call it “overplayed” and say we should want a GM who looks for bargains?
Year after stinking year?
Maybe it’s the refrain of the casual fan
But have has anyone noticed they have a top flight pitching staff in place? Anyone?
How are they going to score runs? Magic?
Point is, it wouldn’t take much to make the Pirates playoff contenders. A couple bats. Then allow the pitchers to compete in a short series
But adding talented bats won’t happen here
“Overplayed” my kiester
The problem is BC isnt a good GM. There is no way anyone should be claiming this player when he wont pitch for your squad for another year. The Pirates have enough bums on their 40-man roster already. BC needs to add Esmerlyn Valdez to the 40-man before this scrub.
Cherington isn’t a good GM no matter how you slice it
Apologist? Hardly.
Anyone with any sense of what happens in an MLB off season knows that teams are constantly searching the waiver wire for players that may help there AAA depth or as in this case someone they may have liked that they can hide on the 60 day.
I trust BC more slightly more in dumpster diving than I do signing FA. At least in dumpster diving he’s not wasting 5mil on Tellez or any other FA he’s signed recently
Like you and many other lifelong Pirate fans, every year I think that this will be the season for the Bucs to become competitive again and every year I become disillusioned by how ownership allows Ben to dumpster dive into the bottom of the waste container for the next rehab project
I know that this pitcher might not make the opening day roster but still, it’s like he can’t wait to stick his hands in the dumpster for another player
Like dodgers claiming max muncy
If you get kicked off the Rockies and then claimed by the Pirates and immediately put on the 60 day injured list your life sucks.
Obviously only happening because he doesn’t fit on the 40 man and may not be there by next week when 60 ILs return, FAs and option declines leave.
Pittsburgh will have 3 more to drop at that point so we’ll see if he sticks – which seems unlikely given they’ll need to clear added spots beyond that for Rule 5 protects and the horde of FAs they’ll sign 🙂 – or added waiver claims.
Pirates must have really liked him in his debut where they lost 17-16 after leading 9-0
Well who knows. Maybe this guy will be the new Healey
A+
Will be a DFA again in a few days. Won’t be on 40 man roster. This is an attempt to put him in the minors.
Exactly
A+ my arse
A+ for the pitcher, F+ for the Pirate fans
This is the year the pirates have to make moves. Either through free agency or trades, probably trades. Im for trading pitching for hitting. But not skenes, chandler,Ashcroft. I understand you need to give up something to set something. BUT I certainly don’t trust cherrington to make good trades.
And as for Minnesota hiring the MORON. Amazing how a terrible manager from a terrible team,gets hired by another inept franchise.
I just think this is another dumpster dive. Guys 28. Got roughed up in the majors before being hurt. Im sorry I can’t get excited over another “older” rookie. I’d give it a D-. Doesn’t excite me one bit. In fact I can see another wasteful off-season of moves.
a free arm. Fair chance he doesn’t make it to spring if he is even healthy enough to do so.