Notes: Bucs Take B-2-B Sets; Slamtana Gone; Tuc Out; Moves; Pirates, Minor League, MLB News

The dog days are here:

Notes:

• The west coast tour continued with a three-gamer at San Diego. The Bucs took the opener 8-4; Quinn Priester won his first MLB game and Liover Peguero banged his first MLB dinger. They dropped game two, but three solo homers were just enough to claim the series finale, 3-2. Then it was back home to face the Phils. The opener was a pitchers duel that they dropped, 2-1, then the Bucs took game #2, 7-6, behind Endy Rodriguez's stick and a five-out save from David Bednar. It was a sellout, the first since Opening Day. Pittsburgh took its second straight series, winning 6-4 in 10 innings, on birthday boy Josh Palacios' extra inning homer.
• The Pirates traded Carlos Santana to the Milwaukee Brewers for SS prospect Jhonny Severino. “Slamtana” will be joining his sixth team in five years after slashing .235/12/53 as a Bucco free agent signing. The 18-year-old Severino was an international signee in 2022 by the Brew Crew, played in the Dominican Summer League and was promoted to the Arizona Rookie League this year (.250/4 HR in 12 games). The switch-hitter was a Top 25 International Prospect. OF Josh Palacios, recently demoted, was called back to take Santana's spot.
• The FO is taking calls on RHP David Bednar, but asking a steep price, not only due to performance but also because he's under team control through 2026. It's unclear if they are actively trying to move The Renegade or just picking up the phone and listening to offers. Some have included RHP Mitch Keller in that category. C Austin Hedges and RHP Rich Hill are considered the most likely to go.

Tucupita - 2023 photo Justin Aller/Getty

• Tucupita Marcano screwed up his knee trying to step around a tag Monday night and went on the 60-day IL with ligament damage, so Tuc is done for the season. Marcano is still being evaluated, but told the media he expects to eventually undergo surgery. The Bucs called up IF Alika Williams, who was the return from Tampa Bay for reliever Robert Stephenson. The 24-year-old been strong at Indy (.305, 12HR + solid glove) to earn his first MLB call, and posted his first MLB knock, good for an RBI, on Saturday.
• 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes began his rehab assignment at Indy during the week to see how his back holds up in action. He'll return to Pittsburgh today, whether to join the team or be medically evaluated was left unclear.
• RHP Wil Crowe cleared waivers and was sent to Indy.
• For the second time this month, Bradenton 1B Joshua Sightler (2022 15th round pick from South Carolina) was chosen the Florida State League Player of the Week after going 13-for-24 with three homers. Three Pirates prospects were named to the Dominican Summer League All-Star game: OFs Juan Machado/Tony Blanco Jr. and RHP Carlos Castillo.
• IF Drew Maggi, the season's early feel-good Bucco story as a 34-year-old rookie, was released. Maggi was hitting .181 at Altoona in his 13th season in the minors.

Drew Maggi debut - 2023 AT&T SportsNet

• Ready to appear for first time since April 2022 following TJ surgery, old Bucco/current Milwaukee Brewers LHP Justin Wilson suffered a lat injury while warming up in the bullpen Friday night and was placed on the 15-day IL.
• LHP Taylor Hearns, who came to the Bucs as part of the 2016 Mark Melancon deal with the Nats and was sent to the Rangers as a AA All Star in 2019 in the Keone Kela swap, had his contract sold by Texas to the Atlanta Braves. In the five years since, he's tossed 92 outings (25 starts), and slashed 12-15-1/5.11. Six days later, Atlanta traded him to Kansas City.
• The Cards sent RHP Chris Stratton to Texas as part of a five-man deal.
• RHP Michael Feliz, who pitched for the Bucs from 2018-20 and has since bounced around the league while aggravated by injury issues, has left the NYY organization and signed with the Nippon League Chunichi Dragons.
• Draft Wrap: third baseman Daniel Cuvet, 3B, St. Thomas (FL) HS/Miami commit, 17th round (unsigned, $150K pool value); Kalae Harrison, SS, NC State, 18th round (undisclosed, pool value $150K). They signed 20-of-21 draftees, and left $1.1M unspent (they did drop $17,123,000 in bonus bucks), apparently money set aside to sign Cuvet, who passed and stayed true to his Miami commitment.