The Pirates and outfielder Dominic Fletcher have agreed to a minor league deal, as first reported by Bucco Bantr. The Ballengee Group client also receives an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Fletcher, 28, has appeared in 112 big league games over the past three big league seasons. Suiting up for the Diamondbacks and the White Sox, he has stepped to the plate 377 times but with just four home runs and a 5.3% walk rate. That’s led to a .233/.280/.325 batting line and 67 wRC+, indicating he’s been 33% below league average at the plate. He’s been better in the minors but not by much. Dating back to the start of 2024, he has a .256/.317/.432 line and 88 wRC+ on the farm.
The White Sox outrighted him off their roster in October and he was later able to elect free agency. Despite the lack of offense, Fletcher could have a path to being a glove-first fourth outfielder. He has 872 2/3 big league innings in the outfield, having spent time in all three slots on the grass. In that time, he’s been credited with five Outs Above Average and 13 Defensive Runs Saved.
The Bucs project to have Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds in two outfield spots. That leaves one job open for guys like Jake Mangum, Jhostynxon García, Jack Suwinski and Billy Cook. They recently designated Marco Luciano for assignment, so he could be in the mix as non-roster depth if he clears waivers. Ronny Simón is already aboard as a non-roster option as the Bucs signed him to a minor league deal.
Fletcher now jumps into that competition for outfield playing time. If he eventually earns a roster spot, he has one option season remaining. He also has a bit more than one year of service time, so he’s still years away from qualifying for arbitration and could therefore be affordably retained for the foreseeable future.
Photo courtesy of Lon Horwedel, Imagn Images
Offense is coming together guys
one run at a time :)
I can’t fault them for building depth in the outfield. I mean, the kid they got from Boston is still unproven, Mangum, who is still kind of an unknown and beyond them, they only have Suwinski. And as the article mentions, an entire cast of young guys who haven’t proven themselves in the bigs
Mangum is pretty safe as average outfielder. Elite defense. Steal bases.
3b is the need unless they start KG at SS then Triolo is fine I suppose.
Triolo if we had would be ok. Kazuma Okamoto Would’ve been better
Super great guy. Loves playing the game.
Would love to see him play well.
Non-roster bats
Hope this isn’t what Pirates are looking for. Hope they still might take a bid on a slightly used Jesus Sanchez
As a Sox fan, Fletcher will make the Pirates team. Solid defense and can run and hit.
Nice pick up.
Cherington quietly putting together another quality AAA team in Indy. Not a bad signing but I wish Nutting would allow him to put a quality MLB team together.