News & Notes: A little Shake & Bake

And this week’s stuff…

• The Pirates finalized the 40-man on Friday. IF Rodolfo Castro and RHP Max Kranick were added to the list; RHP Trevor Williams and UT José Osuna have been DFA’ed. The two adds are now safe from the Rule 5 draft; Joey O may be looking at an Asian gig and Willy was a non-tender candidate. The Pittsburgh 40-man, btw, is full now. 
• Big Joe isn’t the only Buc hurler drawing trade interest. Jon Morosi of MLB Network tweets that Steven Brault is also a pretty shiny toy in the market. Jason Mackey of the Post Gazette adds Trevor Williams (now DFA’ed) and Chad Kuhl to that list.

Steven on the market? – Topps Total 2019

• Bucco prez Travis Williams told Alex Stumpf of DKSports that he “fully anticipates” Indianapolis, Altoona, Bradenton and Greensboro to be the Pirates’ minor-league affiliates in 2021.
• RHP Dovy Neverauskas signed with Hiroshima of the Japanese League (he was expected to hop the pond after being released) for $625K per Yahoo! Japan.
• RHP Parker Markel, who was with the Bucs in 2019 (0-1/5.71 in 15 outings), signed a minor league deal w/the Padres.
• Ex-Bucs 3B Aramis Ramirez and RHP AJ Burnett are on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, having spent the past five years as retirees. OF Barry Bonds is also on the ballot; he has two more years of eligibility. Results of the vote are released in late January.