[REVISION HISTORY]

Pittsburgh Pirates injury updates and trade talks

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-17 19:54 UTC → 2026-08-19 02:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early July, the Pirates placed catcher Endy Rodríguez on the 10-day injured list with a left glute strain and recalled top prospect Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A. A series of injuries kept the roster thin, and by late July the club moved center-fielder Oneil Cruz to the 60-day injured list after a broken hand, opening a 40-man roster spot. The team has since fielded trade offers for Cruz, with sources noting his .264 batting average, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. General manager Ben Cherington said the longer IL stint gives Cruz time to heal before a rehab assignment and could bring back bullpen help or a starter. On July 24, Rodríguez began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, recording a double and an RBI, while backup catcher Rafael Flores remains on the injured list and reliever Chris Devinski continues rehab in Bradenton. On August 17, the Pirates reinstated Oneil Cruz from the 60-day injured list following his recovery from fractures in his left hand. To accommodate his return to the active roster, the team optioned outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis. Additionally, right-handed reliever Yohan Ramírez was reinstated from the paternity list, resulting in left-hander Hunter Barco being optioned to Indianapolis to manage bullpen depth. In his return game against the Detroit Tigers, Cruz hit a two-run home run, tying the Pirates’ single-season home run record at PNC Park. Pitcher Braxton Ashcraft contributed to a 4-1 victory, throwing eight innings and allowing only one run. Management indicated that Cruz’s usage will be managed progressively to monitor for swelling or pain from bat contact as the team pursues a postseason Wild Card spot.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.