Pirates Make Roster Cuts As Key Position Battle Becomes Clearer

The Pittsburgh Pirates got closer to their 26-man roster Wednesday.

The Pirates announced they optioned catcher Jason Delay to Triple-A Indianapolis while they also reassigned infielder Darick Hall, infielder/outfielder Nick Solak, infielder Alika Williams, catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, infielder/outfielder Matt Gorski, outfielder Bryce Johnson and pitcher Yohan Ramírez. The Pirates have 42 players remaining in major league spring training.

Delay is the biggest name out of that bunch. He appeared in 134 games for the Pirates over the last three seasons, but he only played seven games for Pittsburgh in 2024. The 30-year-old catcher had two separate stints on the injured list and spent more time with Indianapolis than in the big leagues. He’s a career .231 hitter with two home runs and 35 RBIs in the majors.

Optioning Delay means the backup catcher spot is now a two-person race between Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez. It’s a tight battle between Davis, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, and Rodriguez with both performing well this spring.

Davis is batting .273 with two home runs and five RBIs while Rodríguez is hitting .360 with one home run and six RBIs. Davis, who struggled last season in 37 games with Pittsburgh, may have the inside track at the moment, but both him and Rodríguez will have a chance to solidify their cases before Opening Day on March 27.