Notes: Newman Deal; Roster Moves; '23 Projections; Bucco Major & Minor News

Step by step, the roster is coming together…

Notes:

• Pittsburgh had seven arb-eligible players at Friday’s tender deadline: DH/OF/3B Miguel Andújar, RHP JT Brubaker, 1B Ji-Man Choi, RHP Mitch Keller, IF Kevin Newman, RHP Robert Stephenson, and RHP Duane Underwood Jr.  Newman was traded to the Reds for 26-year-old righty reliver Dauri Moreto (0-2-1/5.40 in 35 outings last year, K per inning), Miguel Andujar reportedly agreed to a $1.525M deal, and the others were tendered offers. The next arb deadline is January 13th, when the player and club exchange salary figures if they haven’t settled.

• On Tuesday. the Bucs added RHPs Mike Burrows & Colin Selby, C Endy Rodriguez and INF/OF Jared Triolo to the 40-man roster. To make room, C Tyler Heineman, RHPs Jeremy Beasley (who was later released) & RHP Junior Fernandez (claimed by the Yankees) and LHP Manny Bañuelos were DFA’d (Heineman and Banuelos were both arb eligible). Triolo, a gold glove MiLB infielder, will likely become part of the 1B auditions. Also, both season-ending starting C’s have been removed from the list (Heineman and Jason Delay) and the next man up, Blake Sabol, was left unprotected. So it’s Endy and Ali Sanchez now, with Henry Davis in the future. It was also a bit of a surprise that 1B Malcom Nunez was left in the cold; the FO is rolling the dice risking him and Sabol.
• The Pirates signed 23-year-old RHP Nate Webb to a minor league deal with a camp invite after he was DFA’ed/non-tendered by KC. The reliever (he was converted from starter in 2021) is a project, as his ’22 numbers of 2-3-1/9.11 reflected an injury-ridden campaign. He only has three games at the AAA level with a minor league line of 15-17-6/6.11 and hasn’t been to the show. His bauble is a 97 MPH heater.
• Fangraphs has come out with the 2023 Steamer projections. Bryan Reynolds (4.0). Oneil Cruz (3.8) and Ke’Bryan Hayes (3.1) are the only current guys projected to have a WAR of 2.0+.
• SS Oneil Cruz received two third-place votes in the Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the Year poll, finishing in a tie for sixth. The winner was the Braves’ OF Michael Harris II.

• The Pirates newly-declared minor league free agents: RHPs Matt Eckelman, Oliver Garcia & Travis MacGregor; LHP Zach Matson; 2B Drew Maggi and 3B Hunter Owen & Kevin Padlo. Ben Cherington had a zoom presser and told the beat gang that they’re still looking at 1B/DH, the rotation and likely will be increasing the payroll by a yet undetermined amount during the off season.
• If you like to double your pleasure at the ballyard, the Pirates have announced their promotional events for the season from drones, fireworks, bobbleheads, and t-shirts to block parties and pup nights.
• But no Pirates Fest this year; the organization canceled this season’s event and hasn’t committed, one way or another, to its return in the future. 
• RHP Chris Stratton  signed a one-year/$2.8M deal with the Cards, LHP Tyler Anderson inked a three-year,/$39M deal with California while OF Austin Meadows signed on with Detroit for one tear/$4.3M. 
• OF Bligh Madris was DFA’ed by the Rays earlier in the week and claimed by the Tigers; OF Jordan Luplow was DFA’ed by Arizona.