Notes: Cutch In, Andujar Out; RIP Frank Thomas; System Updates; Exes On The Move

The beat goes on...

Notes:

• The Cutch signing (one-year/$5M) became official on Friday; he joined the roster and 3B/OF Miguel Andujar was DFA'ed to clear a space. 
• Baseball America is not all that impressed with the young Buccos - they went from seven Top 100 Prospects (behind a paywall) to four: C/OF Endy Rodriguez (23), IF Temarr Johnson (49), C Henry Davis (73) and RHP Luis Ortiz (74). RHP Quinn Priester, IF Liover Peguero and RHP Mike Burrows dropped off the BA roster and 2B Nick Gonzales, who was just outside the group last season, didn't make it this year, either.
• Caitlyn Callahan, the development coach in Bradenton last year, is no longer with the Pirates organization, with no other info available. She was the first in-uniform female coach in franchise history.
• The Pirates will start camp at Pirate City on February 15th (P's & C's) and be there through the 24th before shifting to LECOM Park.

Frank Thomas - 1998 Upper Deck Retro

• On Monday, 50’s Pirates slugger Frank Thomas passed away at the age of 92. Born in the shadow of Forbes Field in Oakland, Thomas played 16 years in MLB, spending his first eight seasons (1951-58) with his hometown Pirates. Primarily an outfielder and third baseman, Frank was a three-time NL All-Star while playing with the Bucs. He led the club in home runs five times and in RBI four times, reaching the 25-dinger mark four times while driving in more than 100 runs twice. He was handed the Bucs rain-maker torch in 1953, replacing Ralph Kiner, who was traded that year. 
• OF Ted Savage, who played for the Pirates in 1963 and was limited by injury to 85 games, also went to his reward. He spent 25 years with St. Louis after he retired, primarily involved with the Cards' community relations.
• The Texas Rangers signed 1B/OF Yoshi Tsutsugo, last year's Pirates riches-to-rags story, to a minor league deal with a camp invite. 
• The Chicago White Sox have agreed to minor league contracts with OF Jake Marisnick (.234 BA as a Buc in '22) and IF Erik Gonzalez (Marlins system 2022; .236 BA from 2019-21 as a Pirate). Both are NRIs.