The Pittsburgh Pirates have released infielder Garrett Atkins, and cut Fernando Nieve and Justin Thomas from major league camp, cutting their Spring Training roster down to 41 players. That group of players does not include Kevin Hart, who is on the disabled list.
All three players were non roster invitees. Atkins was set to make $800 K if he made the majors. He was competing with Josh Fields and Andy Marte for a bench spot, although his performance this Spring, and over the last few years in the majors, has been poor.
Nieve was signed as a minor league free agent early in the off-season and should pitch out of Indianapolis. Thomas was outrighted off the 40-man roster this past off-season, but re-signed with the Pirates as a minor league free agent. He had good numbers this Spring, but the recent acquisition of Garrett Olson takes up the left handed relief duties in the bullpen.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
too bad about Atkins; he seemed like a good guy and I was hoping his reunion with Hurdle would go better; oh well, he’s made some good money already so I won’t worry TOO much about him