After a long and frustrating journey that no one could have seen coming this season, the Pirates have moved on from their former closer.
Pittsburgh officially designated right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana for assignment on Thursday, cutting ties with the polarizing reliever.
The Bucs acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres in exchange for International Signing Bonus Pool Money and cut ties with Santana to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Santana could clear waivers and return to
the organization to pitch in Triple-A Indianapolis.
Santana entered the season as the reliever many thought the Pirates could rely on the most following a 2.18 ERA and 16 saves in 70 appearances last year.
2026 proved to be Santana’s worst year in the majors and derailed multiple close games the Pirates had chances of winning.
In 44 games spanning 41.2 innings, the righty reliever recorded a 6.05 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and allowed eight home runs, going 2-5 overall.
He allowed 28 earned runs and walked 19 batters, compared to 37 strikeouts. In his last seven games, Santana allowed eight earned runs in 6.1 innings.
It never clicked for Santana, who shuffled between pitching high-leverage situations to mop-up duty on numerous occasions, but could never get back to form.
Santana’s last game as a Pirate came on Monday when he pitched a scoreless inning against the Yankees, but sparked a benches-clearing incident with New York after an altercation with shortstop Jose Caballero.
The Pirates claimed Santana off waivers from the Yankees in 2024, and his career in Pittsburgh ends after pitching against the same franchise.
Ben Cherington acquired a reliever to take Santana’s spot on Thursday.
The Pirates traded for Ron Marinaccio in what should be the first of many moves made in the two weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
The only problem is, he was just about to be available to the only 29 clubs for free.
Marinaccio was DFA’d by the Padres on Sunday after compiling a 4.79 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 33 outings. Better than Santana, but not nearly good enough to be considered a move worthy of a pat on the back or a large celebration.
He struck out 38 and walked 18 in 47 innings. A former quality reliever with the Yankees in 2022 (2.05 ERA), 2023 (3.99), and 2024 (3.86), Marinaccio gets a fresh start in a bullpen in desperate need of help.
Marinaccio was suspended two games for hitting Orioles star Gunner Henderson with two outs in the ninth inning on June 13.
He was DFA’d by the Yankees in 2024 and claimed by the White Sox before being acquired by San Diego soon after.
Moving past Santana fixes a major issue with the Pirates bullpen, but they need to replace him. Well.
The Pirates host the Cubs for the first of a three-game set on Friday night, 6:40 p.m. at PNC Park, currently a half-game out of the wild card race.
