Notes: Camp Approaching, Fraze, Borucki Back, Mayza Added, Elvis & Gary Gone, Bryan & Bart Recognized, Team Wins Arb Cases; Ex-Bucs In The News

Camp is just around the corner: the Pirates’ pitchers and catchers report on February 12. The first full-team first workout is scheduled for February 18.

Pirates Stuff:

• Adam Frazier proved that you can come home again when he signed a one-year/$1.1525 contract with the Bucs. Fraze, 33, who spent his first 5-1/2 years as a Bucco with a .283 BA and an All-Star selection, was traded to the San Diego Padres at the 2021 deadline and has been with four teams since leaving PNC Park. He’s primarily played 2B with corner OF also part of his MLB resume, but he’s had a taste of every position, including DH, other than pitcher/catcher. Recently signed FA RHP Elvis Alvarado was DFA’ed to clear a 40-man roster spot for Frazier and was claimed by the Sacramento (formerly Oakland) Athletics.

He’s back… (Pirates image)

• The Pirates signed 33-year-old lefty reliever Tim Mayza. Mayza had pitched for Toronto from 2017 through last July, when he signed with the NYY. His slash over that time is 20-9-4/3.88 in 367 outings, averaging a strikeout per inning although last year was rough for him as he went 0-2/6.33 and his whiff rate dropped.
• The Pirates re-signed LHP Ryan Borucki to a minor league deal; he’ll get $1.15M+ if he cracks the big league roster. In ’23, he was excellent with a 4-0/2.45 line in 38 outings; but not so much last year with a 7.36 ERA in just 14 appearances (10 were in September), losing most of ’24 to the IL to triceps and wrist injuries.
• RHP Johan Oviedo had his arb hearing on Tuesday. He was after a pay raise to $1.15M while the Bucs countered w/$850K; he earned $765K last year (he didn’t pitch as he was out for TJ rehab). The decision came out the next day in favor of the team. It’s still isn’t clear if he’ll be ready to go when camp starts.

Johan Oviedo – 2024 Topps

• The Pirates went two-for-two as they also won their arb case with RHP Dennis Santana. Santana will earn $1.4M in 2025, rather than the $2.1MM he was asking, after making $1M in ’24. His line was 1-1-1/2.44 in 39 outings.
• Brian Reynolds finished #10 in MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now” LF ratings.
• ESPN‘s Top 100 Prospects include Buc pups #11 RHP Bubba Chandler, #72 2B Termarr Johnson, #81 SS/CF Konnor Griffin and at #99, RHP Braxton Ashcraft
• IF Tristan Gray, recently DFA’ed by the Pirates after a brief second visit to the roster, cleared waivers and has elected free agency.
• C Joey Bart made MLB Network’s list of 10 Breakout Candidates for 2025.
• Ex-Bucco Turner Ward did more than crash through outfield walls; per MLB.com he also was a witness to a couple of bits of baseball history.
• Junior Vizcaino, who was Director of International Scouting for the Pirates from 2017-24, landed with the LA Angels as an international scout.
• RHP Neftali Feliz, 36, who worked for the Bucs in 2016, has signed a minor-league NRI deal with the Seattle Mariners. He’s spent the last three years in Mexico.
• Jake Lamb and the Giants agreed to a minor league deal with an NRI that’s worth $1M if Jake makes the MLB roster. The utility guy spent 2024 at Indy and hit .264.
• RHP Jesse Chavez, 41, has signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He started his MLB journey in 2008-09 with the Bucs and Jesse never looked back, working on extending his run of 17 MLB seasons (653 games) with nine different teams.

Elias Diaz – 2019 photo/Pirates

• C Elias Diaz, who spent his first five seasons with the Pirates (2015-19/.250 BA), re-signed with the San Diego Padres for one-year/$3.5M.