The Pittsburgh Pirates have sent pitcher Zach Phillips, infielder Pedro Florimon and catcher Jacob Stallings outright to Indianapolis. All three players have the right to refuse the assignment, which would make them free agents. In the case of Phillips and Florimon, they would become free agents either way once the free agency period opens later this month. Stallings could accept the assignment and remain with the Pirates, as he doesn’t have enough time in to reach minor league free agency.
All three players were recalled in September. Stallings was also up for a brief time earlier in the season. He played a total of five games, going 6-for-15 at the plate. Phillips was acquired on August 31st in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles for Kyle Lobstein. In eight appearances for the Pirates, he allowed two runs over 6.2 innings. Florimon went 5-for-24 over 18 games, seeing time at shortstop and second base. He also played 24 games for the 2015 Pirates.
The 40-man roster now has three open spots. The Pirates need a total of five spots for players coming off the 60-day DL, so two more moves will need to be made.
UPDATE 5:20PM: Florimon and Phillips have refused the assignment and each elected free agency.
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
P-Flo is leaving??? Awww man!!! I will miss that guy!! I hope he can make a Big League Team!!
Saw that Mariners dropped Charlie Furbush from their 40-man. Neal should get on that. I’ve been hoping to land him for the past three years.
And only about a third of that is because of his name.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/furbuch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-
Yeah, that will put us over the top.
A few years ago DET had Furbush, Coke, and Benoit in their bullpen. I always joked that sounded like a great Saturday night….
He’d be a great addition for the name alone.
I can’t believe that we’re taking a chance on losing a catcher who hit .400 for us.
Uh, he was not claimed when dfa’d (twice), so no one wanted him on their 40 man. He’ll be 27 in December and has a future in the Pirate organization as a coach or future manager. He’s not going anywhere.
Where exactly did I misplace my sarcasm font?
I can’t believe you thought I was serious. He batted .400 in all of 16 Abs. 🙂
I thought they might actually hold on to him because of the injuries to Cervelli, Stewart, and Diaz. I’m curious if this means we’ll keep Fryer until opening day.
I’d keep Fryer until we know the physical condition of Cervelli, Stewart and Diaz.
I m confused – when do guys like Feliz, Joyce, and others on one year contracts get dropped from the 40 man?
i thought it was nov 1 maybe world series needs to be completed?
in years past ws would have been over . not sure ask foofighter.
Bottom line is they did not want Florimon, Phillips, or Stallings on their 40 man, so they were dfa’d and not claimed. All the others you mention will drop off as well. Spots have to be opened up for the Rule 5 guys who are going to be protected.
I don’t think they get ‘dropped’. Their contracts run out a few days after the World Series
Wouldn’t the other 2 spots on the 40 man roster open up when players declare themselves free agents. I know we may need other openings for protecting players in the Rule 5 draft and signing free agents.
Players on the 60-day DL have to be added back before players hit free agency, so it doesn’t work out that way. The players declaring free agency will open up spots for guys they need to protect from the Rule 5 draft
Philips is gone, Florimon will be gone, Stallings will resign
Stallings wouldn’t need to be re-signed if he accepts the assignment. The other two will likely test free agency and the Pirates might have interest in Phillips. I can’t see Florimon returning with the guys who should be getting moved up from Altoona taking infield spots.
The only thing that matters is what Foo sez!!! Zzzzzzz