The Pittsburgh Pirates have made plenty of roster moves to shape the team before the heart of free agency begins.
On Tuesday, the Pirates added six prospects to the 40-man roster and parted ways with five
former big leaguers.
Pittsburgh selected the contracts of two position players and four pitchers, including power-hitting outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Valdez, 21, split time between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona in 2025. He slashed .286/.376/.520 with 25 doubles, 26 home runs, and 86 RBIs in 123 games. He played 51 games in Altoona, hitting .260 with six home runs. He has one of the best up-and-coming bats n the organization.
Valdez also led the Arizona Fall League with eight home runs, hit .368 with 27 runs batted in, and was named AFL Offensive Player of the Year.
The Pirates also added infielder Jack Branigan, left-handed pitcher Tyler Samaniego, and righties Wilber Dotel, Antwone Kelly, and Brandan Bidois to the roster.
To make room on the 40-man, the Pirates designated outfielders Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon, plus relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta for assignment. Canario was acquired at the start of the season from the Mets. He hit .218 with six home runs and 20 RBIs, frequently experiencing prolonged stretched on the bench and primarily playing against left-handed pitching.
Simon made his MLB debut with the Marlins on April 21 and later claimed off waivers by the Pirates. In eight games, Simon totaled seven hits and two RBIs in 30 August at-bats, producing a -0.5 WAR before missing the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Holderman is the most successful of the group to move on. Following two solid seasons in 2023 (3.86 ERA) and 2024 (3.16), Holderman’s pitches became beach balls for opposing hitters. He finished the year with a 7.01 ERA in 24 games, walking 16 hitters compared to 18 punchouts in 25.2 innings.
The former Mett acquired in the Daniel Vogelbach trade allowed four home runs, 20 earned runs, and uncorked three wild pitches, earning himself a demotion to the minor leagues in mid-May. Holderman battled injuries and innefectiveness over the last year and a half, contributing to his downfall as a dependable 8th inning arm to off the roster since a disasterous post trade deadline stretch in 2024.
Moreta came to Pittsburgh in the Kevin Newman trade from the Reds. Known for displaying his signature money sign when walking off the mound, “Big Bank” pitched well in 2023. He struck out 76 hitters and earned a 3.72 ERA and 1.086 WHIP through 58 innings. Moreta missed all of 2024 with Tommy John surgery and was a surprise DFA given his results. In limited action due to rehab and an extended minor-league stay, Moreta posted a 3.24 ERA, seven walks, 19 strikeouts, and a 1.380 WHIP in 16.2 innings. Moreta finished his Pirates career with a 3.62 ERA.
Infielder Cam Devanney was also released so that he could sign with a team overseas. Devanney was acquired from the Royals for starter Bailey Falter and hit .139 in his lone MLB season.
Prior to the roster moves, Pirates beat writer Kevin Gorman of the TRIB reported that the Pirates have made additions to Don Kelly’s coaching staff.
Gorman reported that Kristopher Negron has been hired as the team’s new bench coach, and Tony Beasley as third-base coach. The Pirates hired Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy for this same position earlier this fall.
Negron spent the 2025 season as the Seattle Mariners’ third-base coach following three years coaching first base. He played six years in the majors for the Reds, Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Dodgers.
Negron, 39, retired after the 2019 season and was hired as an assistant to the director of player development.
A former Pirates staffer for 18 years, Beasley returns to the organization where he was previously the third-base coach from 2008-10. Beasley spent 2015-2025 with the Rangers before going their separate ways.
He served as interim manager for 48 games during the 2022 season. Beasley has a history of working as a first and third-base coach in the Major Leagues.
