Notes: Bucs Playin' Like '60; Reynolds Signs; Injuries & Moves; Maggi - ck; Minors Report, MLB News

April merrily marches on...

Notes:

• The big news is that the off-and-on saga between the Pirates and Bryan Reynolds has ended as they agreed on an eight-year contract extension to carry him through 2030. The numbers - signing bonus: $2M; '23: $6.750M; '24: $10M; '25: $12M; '26: $14M; '27-'30: $15M; and in '31, it closes out with a $20M club option/$2M buyout. The guaranteed salary is $106.75M with an upper limit of $124.75M. There is also a six-team no-trade clause but no opt out clause. It's the biggest contract in Pirates history and the club's first six-figure agreement, bypassing the previous largest payout, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes' eight-year, $70M deal signed just last year. The deal allowed the Bucs to finally quit the “never $100M contract” club, leaving just the Athletics, Royals and White Sox on the list. With B-Rey and Key locked up, Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors looks at a few more obvious players to approach with long-term deals.

Bryan Reynolds - 2023 image/Pirates

• The Buccos began the week with a three-game set v LA at PNC Park. They dropped the opener 8-7 ending a seven-game dub streak and took the next pair behind strong six-inning outings by Roansy Contreras (zero runs, two hits) and Mitch Keller (10 K), proving that yes, pitching does matter... It was the first series they've taken from the Dodgers at PNC Park since 2016. They went off to DC; the first game was washed out and a split twin bill was booked for the next day. They took 'em both before Sonny Gary shut the Pirates down in the finale. The Pirates finished the month with a 20-9 mark.
• On Wednesday, RHP Cody Bolton was called up from from Indy and OF Bryan Reynolds returned from the Bereavement List. RHP Wil Crowe was placed on the 15-day IL (shoulder pain - retro to April 23), seldom-used OF Canaan Smith-Njigba was optioned to Indy to get some playing time and C Tyler Heineman was DFA'ed, leaving Endy Rodriguez as the only 40-man backstop behind Austin Hedges and Jason Delay - and Rodriguez is on the IL. (Heineman was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for IF Vinny Capra, who was assigned to Indy). Crowe was placed on the 60-day IL a couple of days later, OF Miguel Andujar was recalled, and Drew Maggi was returned to the Curve after serving as the 27th man for Saturday's twin bill.
• .33-year-old Drew Maggi, after 13 seasons/1,100+ minor league games, made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter Wednesday night (he started the next afternoon and was optioned back to Altoona), swinging for DH Andrew McCutchen - and that's what he'll tell the grandkids, "I pinch hit for Cutch". He's the oldest Pittsburgh position player (Modern Era) to take his bow, but Drew's not the grayest - LHP Diomedes Olivo made his MLB debut with the Pirates at age 41 on September 5th, 1960. And yes - Maggi banged his first MLB hit (an RBI knock at that) followed by a double and run scored before he left.

Drew was pretty pleased with his first knock - 4/29/23 A&T SportsNet

• Sad news: Dick Groat passed away at the age of 92. The Swissvale HS star and WPIAL Hall-of-Famer was a two-time All America basketball player at Duke (he later played a pro season with the Pistons) who was named the Helms Player of the Year and had his #10 jersey number retired. He was also an AA for Blue Devil baseball, and was the first player enshrined in both the College Basketball and Baseball Halls of Fame. The shortstop spent 14 years with four clubs in MLB (1952-62 as a Buc, with a two-year military break). During his big league stay, he was an MVP, batting titleist, two-time World Series champ, eight-time All Star, record-setter with Bill Maz with five seasons of leading the league in double plays turned by two players, and a Pirates Hall of Famer.
• RHP Chase DeJong (back strain) started his rehab stint at Indy on Tuesday.
• The second opinions are in: Pirates pitching prospect Mike Burrows underwent TJ surgery this week and is expected to be sidelined for the next 14 to 16 months.
• At Indy, 2B Nick Gonzales joined the IL with a left shoulder strain. Better news: C Endy Rodriguez (right forearm strain) is now taking BP and is hoped to be back behind the dish in 10 days.  The Altoona Curve placed RHP Jared Jones, who's been opening some eyes this year, on the 7-day IL, retroactive to April 21st. They didn't disclose the nature of his injury.
• The Rockies called up RHP Nick Mears, 26, who was 1-0/4.75 with Pittsburgh from 2020-22 in 36 outings.
• 11-year vet RHP Heath Hembree, who made 20 appearances for the Bucs last year (2-0/7.16), was DFA'ed by Tampa Bay.
• LHP Steven Brault, 30, has signed with the Frederick club of the indie/MLB Partner Atlantic League. He was in the Cubs system last year, but missed most of the season with a shoulder sprain. 
• Toronto assigned OF Jordan Luplow (2017-18 as a Bucco) to AAA after trading with the Pirates for C Tyler Heineman.