Pittsburgh Pirates execute roster adjustments to address bullpen deficiencies
Management has designated Ryan Harbin for assignment to facilitate the recall of Chris Devenski, while promoting Cam Sanders to replace Braxton Ashcraft following bereavement leave
The Pittsburgh Pirates have implemented a series of roster transactions this week aimed specifically at stabilising the long and middle relief categories of their bullpen. These institutional adjustments come as the franchise seeks to rectify a season marked by a significant disparity between actual saves and blown saves. The primary driver for these changes is the need to address what has been identified as a persistent team weakness in the edges of the pitching staff.
To create the necessary flexibility on the 40-man roster, right-hander Ryan Harbin was designated for assignment. This move was required to accommodate the recall of veteran right-hander Chris Devenski. Harbin's departure was necessitated by injury, with his return previously projected for late May, making the designation a strategic decision to prioritise roster depth over immediate availability for a player unlikely to contribute in the short term.
Concurrently, the club promoted Cam Sanders to the major league roster to fill the void left by Braxton Ashcraft, who is currently unavailable due to family bereavement. This exchange maintains the balance of right-handed pitching in the relief corps. However, the volatility of the transactional process was further highlighted by the movement of left-hander Hunter Barco, who was briefly called up before being optioned down again following the recall of Devenski.
The immediate performance of the recalled personnel has raised questions regarding the efficacy of these rapid adjustments. In his debut appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals, Devenski allowed two hits and a run. Meanwhile, Barco, who had previously recorded an ERA of 7.71 across five appearances, was sent down after allowing five runs in 4.2 innings during his brief stint in the majors.
Management has indicated that stability is expected to remain at the top of the bullpen, where Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto, Isaac Mattson, and Yohan Ramirez have shouldered the bulk of the workload. The focus of these recent moves remains strictly on filling the gaps in the middle and long relief roles, acknowledging that the team may continue to experiment with combinations to find a more effective configuration for the remainder of the season.
