Pittsburgh Pirates DFA Gamble Pays Off; Player Retained

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a calculated gamble last week after signing Andrew McCutchen. They designated for assignment a name player who might very well have been claimed on waivers. But all MLB teams passed, and Miguel Andujar will remain a Pirate, for now.

OF Miguel Andújar, whom the Pirates DFA last Friday, has cleared waivers. He’ll get a non-roster invite to Pirates spring twining camp.

— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) January 26, 2023

The former Rookie of the Year runner-up with the New York Yankees has cleared waivers and will receive a non-roster invite to Pirates spring training.

The Bucos took a chance that no team would claim Andujar's $1.525M salary, and they were correct.

The Yankees DFA'd Andujar last September, and the Pirates had picked him up off waivers. He got into just nine games in Pittsburgh, batting .250 with three doubles.

Andujar finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 for the Yankees after batting .297 with an .855 OPS, 27 HR and 92 RBIs. He's struggled to recapture that glory ever since.

He'll now try his hand once again in the Pirates' system.

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports