The Pirates introduced Tuesday that veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney has been designated for task. His spot on the roster will go to heart fielder Oneil Cruz, who has been reinstated from the injured checklist. Pittsburgh additionally optioned infielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis and recalled right-handed reliever Dauri Moreta from Triple-A.
Heaney, who turned 34 in June, signed a one-year deal within the offseason, guaranteeing him $5.25MM. Early within the 2025 marketing campaign, it seemed like the most effective low-cost pickups of the winter by any workforce. The veteran southpaw raced out to a powerful begin, tossing 78 1/3 innings of three.33 ERA ball in his first 14 journeys to the bump. Heaney posted a pointy 7.5% stroll charge in that point, and whereas a pedestrian 18.5% strikeout charge and considerably elevated 1.26 HR/9 mark pointed to some extent of regression — he had a 4.47 FIP and 4.51 SIERA in that point — the reckoning was extra emphatic than anybody might’ve moderately anticipated.
A pair of consecutive seven-run drubbings in mid-June proved to be the start of a two-month spiral from which Heaney merely hasn’t been capable of get well. Over his previous 42 innings, he’s been trounced for 43 earned runs (9.21 ERA) with only a 12.1% strikeout charge. Opponents have averaged a staggering 2.79 dwelling runs per 9 innings pitched throughout that span.
The Pirates not too long ago demoted Heaney to the bullpen, however the change in roles didn’t show useful. He’s surrendered six runs in 1 1/3 innings throughout his two most up-to-date reduction outings, together with 5 runs in simply two-thirds of an inning final evening.
Some onlookers would possibly cynically liken Heaney’s DFA to the Pirates’ much-maligned 2024 determination to designate Rowdy Tellez for task when he was simply 4 plate appearances shy of a $200K bonus. Given the extended nature of Heaney’s struggles, this appears to be a a lot totally different situation. In truth, final evening’s two-thirds of an inning proved to be simply sufficient to push Heaney over 120 innings on the season (120 1/3 total), which unlocked a $50K bonus.
Had the Pirates saved trotting him on the market, Heaney might’ve unlocked additional incentives. (He’d have taken dwelling one other $100K at 130 innings and $150K at 140 innings pitched.) Nevertheless, primarily based on his previous two months, there’s no incentive for the workforce to maintain giving him alternatives. Heaney had ample alternative to drag himself out of the hunch and wasn’t in a position to take action. Ultimately, he’ll wind up incomes $5.3MM this contract, and the innings that will’ve gone to him will as a substitute go to youthful arms whom the Bucs can management past the present season.
Pittsburgh certainly tried to discover a commerce companion previous to the deadline, however even then, Heaney was using a streak of 28 runs surrendered in his previous 28 2/3 innings. He’d been tagged for 15 dwelling runs in his previous 50 innings. It’s simple to think about most groups searching for pitching felt they might get comparable or higher outcomes merely sticking in home.
With Heaney now off the 40-man roster, he’ll be positioned on waivers. It’s largely irrelevant whether or not that’ll be outright waivers or launch waivers, because it’s unlikely anybody will declare the remaining $932K on his contract after struggles of this magnitude, and he has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright task in favor of free company whereas retaining the rest of his assured wage. Barring what could be a really shocking declare, he’ll be a free agent inside the subsequent few days. He might latch on with a brand new membership as pitching depth for the ultimate month of the season and will technically be postseason-eligible if he indicators with a brand new workforce previous to Sept. 1 — although he’d clearly have to show issues round in a rush to be thought-about for a spot on anybody’s October rosters.
