Notes: Pham Joins Fam, NRIs Announced, Ex-Bucs Bouncing Around

P & Cs report on the 12th, the full squad on the 17th…

Pirates stuff:

• The Bucs signed OF Tommy Pham (this will be his age 37 season) to a one-year/$4.025M deal. Tommy hit .248 w/9HR for three teams in 2024; Pittsburgh is his 10th different organization in 12 MLB campaigns. Although he played all three OF spots, his fielding numbers weren’t very sparkly: -2 Outs Above Average and -10 defensive runs saved.
• Pittsburgh agreed to terms with RHP Jarod Bayless, 28, on a minor league deal. He’s been in the Seattle system since 2019 and tossed in AA last year, posting a record of 1-1-2/4.76 for the Arkansas Travelers.

Bubba Chandler – 2024 MLB Pipeline

• The Pirates announced 14 NRIs headed for camp: RHPs Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, Ryder Ryan & Sean Sullivan; lefties Hunter Barco, Ryan Borucki & Anthony Solometo; IFs Jack Brannigan, Konnor Griffin & Termarr Johnson; OFs Matt Gorski & DJ Stewart and Cs Omar Alfonzo & Aaron McKeithan. This group brings the Bucco NRI count to 27 players so far.
• LHP Tim Mayza was officially added to the 40-man roster when he signed off on his $1.15M deal; IF Alika Williams was DFA’ed to clear a spot for him (he went unclaimed and was outrighted back to Indy; he’ll come to camp as a NRI).  

Other stuff:

• OF Edward Olivares has officially signed with the Orix Buffaloes in NPB, agreeing on a one-year/$960K pact.
• RHP Vince Velasquez, who slashed 4-4/3.86/K per inning for the Bucs in ’23 before requiring UCL surgery, signed a minor-league/NRI deal with Cleveland after missing 2024. Velasquez will earn $1.5M if he makes the club, with another $2.5M tied to performance bonuses.
• The Cubs DFA’ed lefty reliever Rob Zastryzny. Rob tossed for the Bucs in 2023, with a 1-0/4.79 line in 21 appearances.
• OF/1B Ben Gamel inked a MLB deal with the Houston Astros. Ben got a $200K signing bonus with a $1M non-guaranteed salary. He was a fairly regular Pirates fixture in 2021-22, batting .242 in 226 games. 
• The Braves and RHP Chad Kuhl have agreed to a minor league deal. Chad tossed in Pgh. from 2016-21 with a slash of 25-30/4.44 and has worked for three other clubs since he’s left.

Chad Kuhl – 2022 Topps Series 2

• RHP Tom Hatch signed a minor-league NRI deal with the Royals. He pitched for the Pirates in 2023, posting a 1-1/4.03 mark, then spent ’24 in Japan.
• OF/1B Connor Joe reportedly signed a one-year agreement with San Diego, his hometown team. No financial details are available yet.
• LHP Enny Romero agreed to a minor-league, NRI contract with the Giants. Enny’s last MLB go-around was in 2018 when the Pirates were one of three teams he tossed for. Since that time, he’s toiled in Japan and the Dominican.
• The Orioles have claimed right-hander Roansy Contreras from the Yankees. It was the fifth time he’s changed organizations during the offseason (it’s the second time that Baltimore has claimed him).