The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves today to re-instate players from the 60-day disabled list, and to clear up some sports on the 40-man roster:
-The following players were outrighted off the 40-man roster to AAA: Sean Gallagher, Brandon Moss, Justin Thomas, Steven Jackson, and Jeff Clement, who was re-instated from the 60-day disabled list.
Jackson, Thomas, and Moss all have the right to decline their assignments, since they have previously been outrighted to AAA by the Pirates. If they refuse the assignment, they would become free agents.
By my calculations, Gallagher wouldn’t be eligible for minor league free agency until after the 2011 season, since he only spent parts of six seasons in the minors (you need seven seasons). Clement also wouldn’t be eligible for minor league free agency until after the 2011 season. Both players would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this December.
-The following players were re-instated to the 40-man roster, from the 60-day disabled list: Jose Ascanio, Ross Ohlendorf, and Steve Pearce.
-Chan Ho Park was removed from the 40-man roster, as he is a free agent.
-Wilfredo Ledezma has signed a one year deal for the 2011 season. No word yet on the details of the contract. Ledezma would have been arbitration eligible this off-season.
The 2011 40-man roster/payroll projection has been updated. There are currently two open spots on the 40-man roster, although I expect more will be opened in the coming weeks, leading up to the November 19th deadline to protect players from the 2010 Rule 5 draft.
