Notes: Tellez, Olivares Added, Depth Signings; Endy Out; Ex-Bucco Landing Spots; SportsNet Ownership Switches

Not in much of a hurry...

Notes:

• We just can't have nice things: C Endy Rodriguez had a UCL reconstruction (elbow surgery) and will miss 10-12 months; guess that explains the Ali Sanchez signing. Rodriguez was pulled from winter ball a month ago w/elbow pain after a swing.
• Rowdy Tellez, 28, signed with the Pirates, inking a one year deal worth $3.2M guaranteed and up to $4M with bonuses after being non-tendered by the Brew Crew. The 1B/DH hit .215/13HR/47RBI in 351 at-bats for Milwaukee last year, but banged out 35 long balls in 2022. 
• The Royals swapped OF Edward Olivares to the Pirates for 21-year-old Bradenton IF Deivis Nadal. Olivares, 27, is considered a good stick, meh mitt guy with a .261 BA over parts of four MLB seasons. He does have good speed and a good arm, so he looks like Jack Suwinski's platoon partner in right as of now. Nadal hit .214 in two Marauder campaigns. 

Edward Olivares joins up - 2023 photo Mark Rebilus/USA Today

• The Bucs sent international pool space (reportedly $500K) to the Yankees for lefty-hitting OF/1B Billy McKinney, 29. A former first round pick in 2013, he's played in parts of six seasons with six MLB teams, slashing .209/.284/.390 with 34 HR in 818 big league at bats. It's a minor league, not 40-man, roster move. He was outrighted by NY in November, became a free agent and then signed a minor league deal with the Yankees last week; kinda interesting that the Pirates could have had him for free for a month but waited...
• The Pirates signed RHP Ryan Ryder, 28, to a minor league deal. After a seven-year trek through four farm systems (21-22-19/3.88, 363 K in 330 IP), he debuted with Seattle last year, getting two Ks in an inning's work.
• Versatile good-glove IF Sergio Alcántara, 27, was inked by Pittsburgh as a NRI. From 2020 to 2022, the switch-hitter appeared in 192 games for the Tigers, Cubs, D-Backs and Padres with a career .209/.281/.343 slash.
• RHP Hunter Stratton, 27, was re-signed after being non-tendered in November. The 16th round pick of the 2017 draft debuted with the big team in 2023, appearing in eight games/12 innings (no decisions, 2.25 ERA), giving up nine hits, striking out 10 and walking three.
• The international signing period ended Friday, and the Pirates took it to the wire to sign Cuban RHP Enmanuel Chapman, 25, to a $200K bonus, pending his physical. His bread and butter is the heater, sitting in the mid-to-upper 90s. They also inked South Korean SS Jayden Kim, 17, also for $200K. 
• RHP Roddery Munoz, who was claimed off waivers from the Nats two weeks ago, was DFA'd by the Pirates to clear a 40-man roster spot for Tellez.

Duane will be in pinstripes now - 2023 photo/Pirates

• RHP Duane Underwood Jr signed an NRI deal with the NYY. From 2021-23, he slashed 4-9-3/4.49 with the Pirates after coming over from the Cubs.
• C Roberto Perez, 35, who was with the Pirates in 2022 but had his season cut to 21 games due to a hammy injury, has signed with Boston. He was with the Giants last year, but only got into five games with them after shoulder surgery.
• The Royals inked RHP Chris Stratton to a one-year/$4M contract with a '25 option. He worked out of the Pirates pen in 2022 and has since been with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
• The Brewers signed LHP Rob Zastryzny, 31, to a minor league deal. Rob was 1-0/4.79 in 21 outings out of the pen for the Bucs last year.
• IF Eric Gonzalez signed a minor-league deal with the Reds. He played around the infield for the Bucs from 2019-21, hitting .236, after coming over from the Indians. He spent '22 in the Miami system and last year in the White Sox organization.
• RHP Daniel Hudson has agreed to a minor league deal with the Dodgers for $2M with another $2M in bonuses if he earns a roster spot. He last worked for the Pirates in 2017; LA is the fourth team he's been with since.
• RHP Yohan Ramirez, who the White Sox picked up from the Bucs when he was waived after the season, was DFA'd. He's pitched for four teams, putting up a 3.99 career ERA, but being out of options is keeping him on the move. 
• The Guardians DFA'd 1B Alfonso Rivas, who the Pirates set loose earlier in the off season, to clear a 40-man spot for C Austin Hedges.

Tyler Glasnow - 2018 Topps Future All Star

• Tyler Glasnow is part of a four-man deal between Tampa Bay and the Dodgers after getting LA to agree to a five-year/$136.5M contract extension, including his $25M option for this coming season. He was a piece of the infamous Chris Archer swap in 2018.
• The Pirates became joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh with the Penguins, and planned to broadcast at the start of the new year, with the Bucs guaranteed at least 150 games on the air. As with AT&T SportsNet, the games will be available through cable, satellite and streaming services. 
• Robby Incmikoski, the popular on-field guy for AT&T SportsNet, wasn't retained by SportsNet Pgh. He handled the news with aplomb and said that he wants to pursue non-sports broadcasting, such as news and lifestyle reporting. He was with the network for 11 years, starting back in its Root Sports days.