The Pirates introduced a sequence of roster strikes immediately, together with the choice of outfielder Billy McKinney, which was beforehand reported. In addition they recalled right-hander Hunter Stratton. To make room for these two, the membership positioned third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured checklist with low again irritation and designated righty Ryder Ryan for task.
It doesn’t come as an enormous shock that Hayes has landed on the IL with this again subject, because it’s been a recurring theme in his profession thus far. He landed on the shelf because of a again damage in 2022, twice in 2023 and now that is his second stint of the 2024 season. Yesterday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette wrote about how Hayes has a disc drawback in his again that requires him to play by ache, with no apparent remedy other than relaxation.
“Somebody who has what I’ve, you wish to keep away from turning,” Hayes mentioned to Mackey. “However that’s what I’ve to do every single day. It’s been irritating, for certain, simply realizing that I’m loads higher than what I’m showcasing. I wish to be on the market every single day, nevertheless it’s simply … arduous.”
The third baseman then received extra into the weeds in discussing his damage. “My complete subject is the disc has misplaced its jelly stuff,” Hayes mentioned. “Once we take a look at the MRIs, [the discs are] simply type of compressing. I don’t know that it’s rubbing, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a bit of collapsed to the place there’s strain, irritation builds up, and muscular tissues wish to attempt to shield.”
The Pirates have hovered across the playoff race this 12 months however have hit a nasty skid currently, going 3-13 of their previous 16 video games. They’re nonetheless inside 7.5 video games of a Wild Card spot within the Nationwide League however must leapfrog six completely different groups so as to get into playoff positions. The Playoff Odds at FanGraphs give them only a 0.5% probability of constructing the postseason now, whereas the PECOTA Standings at Baseball Prospectus are barely decrease at 0.4%.
Maybe the Bucs have accepted that this isn’t their 12 months and can now get Hayes some relaxation versus pushing him to play by his damage. Whether or not he’ll come again or just be shut down maybe depends upon how he feels within the coming weeks.
Although the again subject isn’t new, it’s doable it’s impacting him greater than in earlier years. He got here into this season with a .264/.320/.409 batting line and 98 wRC+ in addition to 65 Defensive Runs Saved and 51 Outs Above Common at third base. This 12 months, he’s hitting .233/.283/.290 for a wRC+ of 60 and his defensive grades are down a bit, although nonetheless robust, at 9 DRS and 5 OAA.
Discovering an answer will clearly be a precedence for the Bucs, as they gave Hayes an eight-year, $70MM extension in 2022. That deal runs by 2029 and has a membership choice for 2030, a big dedication for a low-spending membership just like the Pirates. With Hayes out of motion, the Bucs will seemingly give extra infield time to guys like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jared Triolo and Alika Williams, with that group additionally protecting second base alongside shortstop Oneil Cruz.
Ryan, 29, signed a minor league take care of the Pirates within the offseason and has been on and off their roster this 12 months. He made the Opening Day roster and spent the primary half of the season as a frequently-optioned depth arm. As of 2022, gamers can solely be optioned 5 instances per season and the Pirates had already optioned Ryan 5 instances by the center of July. He was then designated for task on the finish of July and accepted an outright task. He was added again to the roster per week in the past however now will get the DFA remedy once more.
Round these transactions, he has thrown 20 2/3 innings on the main league degree with a 5.66 earned run common, combining an 18.3% strikeout price with a 9.7% stroll price and 37.1% floor ball price. He has additionally thrown 28 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 4.45 ERA, 16% strikeout price, 8.4% stroll price and 50% floor ball price.
With the commerce deadline now handed, the Bucs should place him on waivers within the coming days. He has another choice 12 months remaining however can not be optioned right here in 2024. Since he handed by waivers a couple of weeks in the past and accepted an outright task, it’s doable that the identical sequence of occasions takes place within the subsequent few days.
