Pittsburgh Pirates Place Two Intriguing Players On Waivers

The Pittsburgh Pirates have recently undergone significant roster changes, with outfielder Calvin Mitchell and right-hander Yohan Ramirez being designated for assignment.

Mitchell, who showcased promise last year with an impressive Triple-A performance, struggled to replicate his success at the major league level, batting .226/.286/.349 across 69 games.

We’ll always have this moment when Cal Mitchell enraged every Cardinals fan by breaking up Miles Mikolas’ no-hitter with 2 outs in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/hS6CnkoVcv
— Jim Rosati 🏴‍☠️ (@northsidenotch) September 1, 2023

Despite doing well in Triple-A this season with a solid .264/.338/.426 line, his strikeout rate rose to 29.3%.

On the other hand, Ramirez, acquired from the Cleveland Guardians, had a strong start to the year with a notable 1.25 ERA.

However, his performance has declined since then. Throughout his career, control issues have been a challenge for him, evident by his 12.5% walk rate in the majors.

While Ramirez carries potential with his ability to strike out batters and induce ground balls, his struggles with command have posed difficulties.

Another day, another potential waiver claim. Yohan Ramirez has an east-west arsenal with his SW as the K pitch. The SW is thrown at 83 w/ lift, almost giving the pitch a PNW profile. Ramirez, 28, has options and elite extension as well.#RaysUp #Rays pic.twitter.com/HuEIBuzhFh
— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) September 1, 2023

These roster moves come as the Pirates continue to navigate their team composition, making space for new additions like Miguel Andujar, who was brought up from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Mitchell's struggles in the majors and Ramirez's inconsistent performance led to their designations for assignment, leaving open the possibility that they could be claimed off waivers by other teams looking to harness their potential and address their respective challenges. Photo Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports