Week's Notes: Roster Shuffle Continues; 2022 Sked Released; Minor Moves; Following Our Old Mateys

Let the dog days begin...

Big Club Notes:

• OF Ben Gamel had a tight hammy and was scratched from the first Cincy game. He ended up on the 10-day IL on Friday and 1B Colin Moran was recalled from his rehab assignment. Redbeard had been out since early June after being HBP in the hand.
• LHP Steven Brault was recalled off the 60-day IL. In his first outing, he allowed a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings versus Milwaukee on Wednesday. RHP Max Kranick was optioned to Indy to make space for him on the active roster & RHP Chase De Jong, who had cartilage surgery on his knee, was transferred to the 60-day IL (he's expected to be out of action for five months) to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

He's back - 2021 Pirates photo day

• The Bucs claimed LHP Anthony Banda off waivers from the New York Mets. He's 28 and has 23 MLB outings slashing 5-3-1/6.14, with the Pirates as his sixth organization. Banda had been DFA'ed by the Mets and was assigned to Indy, but then was quickly moved to the big team.
• Hoy Park has made four starts for the Pirates; he's played a different position each time. He's also pinch hit, so if versatility is what the Buccos seek, they got with Park.
• RHP Chad Kuhl was placed on the COVID-IL after a positive test result, and RHP Shea Spitzbarth (3-2/1.41 in 27 outings/32 IP at Indy) was called up to replace him. But not for long, although he did make his first pair of MLB appearances - he was returned when Banda joined the club.
• RHP Nick Mears was day-to-day during the Brew Crew series with a twisted ankle, but was back for the Reds set.
• And here is the newly released 2022 Pirates schedule. The AL East will provide their interleague foes (Boston, NYY & Toronto will visit PNC Park) along with designated rival Detroit. 

Farm Notes:

• The Pirates signed RHP Keury Mella, 28, and sent him to AAA Indy. The Dominican reliever put in five years with brief stops at Cincy and Arizona, posting a line of 2-0/7.22 in 21 outings.
• OF Dustin Fowler, who has been out of AAA action since May 25th with an unspecified injury, has been removed from the IL and is back at Indy.
• RHP Miguel Yajure began his rehab with Bradenton, and worked 1-2/3 IP/31 pitches (he was on a 35-pitch count), giving up two hits and an unearned run. He hadn't pitched since May 26th after suffering a forearm strain.

Yajure is back in action - 2021 photo/Pirates

• RHP Ricky DeVito, who the Pirates acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Ric Rod trade and assigned to Hi-A Greensboro, was placed on the 60-day IL. He's been on the IL since June with an unspecified injury, so the Bucs took him in trade knowing he was dinged.
• RHP Braxton Ashcraft, the Pirates #22 prospect, had TJ surgery. He was 1-1/5.35 in 10 starts for Hi-A Greensboro.
• Greensboro SS Liover Peguero, 20, was named the High-A East Player of the Week by MiLB. The Bucs' #4 ranked prospect, Peguero has a four-game, five-dinger homer string and extended his hitting streak to seven games (12-for-30 with seven extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and nine runs scored). 
• First round pick Henry Davis began his Bucco career in the Florida Rookie league Tuesday; he homered, doubled and had three RBI in his debut.
• Between trades and the draft, the Pirates Top 30 Prospect list per Baseball America (behind a  paywall) added C Henry Davis (#2), SS Tucupita Marcano (#7), RHP/SS Bubba Chandler (#13), LHP Anthony Solometo (#21), OF Lonnie White Jr. (#22) and C Carter Bins (#24).

Ex-Bucs Notes:

• RHP Jameson Taillon was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for July. Taillon sported a 4-0/1.16 slash, .182 oppo BA and 25 Ks in 31 innings pitched. 
• If you have a good memory, you might recall RHP John Axford, a long-time Brewer who the Pirates acquired for the 2014 stretch run. He hasn't tossed in the show since 2018, but this year pitched for Team Canada in the Olympic qualifier before Toronto signed him and sent him to AAA Buffalo at age 38. Ax was sharp there, and on Monday, the Brew Crew bought his contract from the Blue Jays to return him to the bigs. His first outing was against the Bucs.

Sean is poppin' 'em for the D-Backs now - 2021 photo/Pirates

• RHP Sean Poppen, who started the year with the Bucs, was DFA'ed by the Rays and claimed by the D-Backs.
• RHP Tyler Glasnow underwent TJ surgery and is expected to be out of action until 2023.
• RHP Nick Tropeano, 30, DFA'ed by the Mets, has elected free agency. He tossed for the Pirates in 2020.
• RHP Gerritt Cole tested positive for Covid-19. It's been a tough year for the Cole Train.
• RHP/1B Stetson Allie has been released by the Rays. He was drafted by the Bucs in the second round of the 2010 draft, but never found a sweet spot between pitching and playing while with Pittsburgh, the Dodgers and Tampa Bay.
• LHP Williams Jerez, who worked six games for Pittsburgh in 2019, was waived by Seattle.