Pittsburgh Pirates DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba for assignment in order to make 40-man roster space for reliever Aroldis Chapman, whose one-year, $10.5 million deal has become official. The 24-year-old appeared in just 15 games for the Bucs in the 2023 season, hitting just .125 with one stolen base, five RBI, and a big-time 43.2% K% across a small 37-plate-appearance sample size. He spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A where he hit a solid .280 with 15 home runs, 21 SB, and an .839 OPS across 105 games, production which graded out to 10% above the Triple-A average, as per his 110 wRC+. Smith-Njigba can either be traded or placed on outright or unconditional release waivers within the next seven days.

Free-agent right-hander Domingo German is receiving interest on the open market from a pair of AL East clubs, namely the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. The veteran hurler has a checkered past as he has served a domestic violence suspension, had multiple issues with "sticky stuff", and most recently sought, and received, treatment for alcohol abuse. The 31-year-old has spent his entire six-year MLB tenure with the New York Yankees but was not tendered a qualifying offer and became a free agent in November. Most recently, he worked to a 4.56 ERA across 20 outings (19 starts) with the Bombers in 2023 while he owns a 4.41 ERA across 112 big-league appearances (89 starts) while having issues with the home run ball by way of a career 1.62 HR/9 clip.

Free-agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, according to sources. Chapman started last year with the Kansas City Royals before joining the eventual World Series-champion Texas Rangers. In 61 total relief appearances, the seven-time All-Star reliever had a 3.09 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, six saves, 36 walks and 103 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. He's now been with four different teams in the last three seasons and is no longer a shutdown closer in the ninth inning. However, Chapman does have 321 career saves and should serve as a late-inning setup man in Pittsburgh in 2024 in front of closer David Bednar, giving him fantasy value for strikeouts and holds. The hard-throwing southpaw reached 100 strikeouts in 2023 for the fifth time in his career.

The New York Mets have expressed interest in free-agent relievers Aroldis Chapman and Hector Neris this offseason, according to league sources. Neris might be a better fit for the New York Yankees, but his asking price of one or two years at $7-11 million per year would fit the Mets' budget. The Mets have also spoken to left-hander Wandy Peralta as they look to upgrade their bullpen. Chapman seems more likely to find a better fit elsewhere, and Adam Ottavino, who declined a $6.75 million option for 2024, is a possibility to return to the Mets on a new deal. Edwin Diaz, who missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury, is returning as the club's primary closer this year, so any relief pitcher that the Mets sign between now and the start of the regular season will operate in more of a late-inning setup role out of the bullpen.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent outfielder Billy McKinney, infielder Sergio Alcantara, outfielder Gilberto Celestino, right-hander Ben Heller, infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb, left-hander Michael Plassmeyer, right-hander Ryder Ryan and right-hander Hunter Stratton to minor-league deals with invites to spring training on Thursday. McKinney was traded to the Pirates from the New York Yankees in December and will now open up the 2024 campaign with the Pirates, albeit likely in the minor leagues. The 29-year-old played in 48 contests at the big-league level with the Yankees in 2023 and hit just .227/.320/406 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 147 plate appearances. The rebuilding Bucs will offer McKinney a better shot at playing time in the majors, but he's off the fantasy radar.