The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first offseason move one day after the World Series, reacquiring infielder Tristan Gray on waivers. It’s not the move Pirates fans were hoping for and is bound to draw cries of, “Here we go again!” However, upon close examination, it makes sense.
Pirates Claim Tristan Gray https://t.co/IOMf7Kp90R pic.twitter.com/4G2bjchT9Z
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) October 31, 2024
Pirates Begin Offseason by Reacquiring Power-Hitting Prospect Tristan Gray
The Pirates drafted Gray out of Rice University in the 13th round of the 2017 June Amateur Draft. He played 53 games in Low-A to finish out 2017. In the spring of 2018, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays with the recently retired Daniel Hudson for outfielder Corey Dickerson.
Gray, 28, bats left-handed and plays all four infield positions. In five years in the Rays system, Gray hit .233/.307/.448, 101 HR, and 353 RBI. Never a hitter for a high average, he seemed to come into his own as a power hitter in 2022 and 2023, hitting 63 home runs over that period. The Rays gave him just a cup of coffee in the majors, however, calling him for two games in 2023. In those games, he was 2-for-5 with a home run.
Gray became a minor league free agent in November 2023 and was immediately signed by the Miami Marlins. They waived him the following August when he was snatched up by the Oakland Athletics. In Triple-A in 2024, for both organizations, he hit .251/.322/.467, 19 HR, and 64 RBI. He made brief cameo appearances in the majors for both teams in 2024. For his major league career, he’s 5-for-26 in 17 games.
How Gray Fits with the Pirates
It’s a good low-risk move by the Pirates, who drafted Gray before Ben Cherington became their general manager. Gray appears to be a mere organizational depth option, but he may come in handy given the Pirates’ uncertainty throughout the infield. The Pirates presently don’t have a major-league-ready first baseman in their system. It’s unknown whether Ke’Bryan Hayes will continue to be bothered by his back in 2025. If so, Jared Triolo will slide into the third base position, leaving his Swiss-army-knife role vacant. Oneil Cruz will open the season in center field, likely never to return to shortstop.
Second base might be a competition between Nick Gonzales, Nick Yorke, and perhaps Triolo if Hayes is healthy. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a candidate to play somewhere in the infield in 2025. Despite some thought that he’s more suited to a utility role himself, that’s not happening. He’s due to make $7.5 million next year. The Toronto Blue Jays have assumed part of it. Even so, that’s not a salary the Pirates are going to pay for a bench piece.
Of course, if Gray’s minor-league power translates to the majors, the Pirates would be more than happy to find a spot for him, especially given that PNC Park’s dimensions favor left-handed power hitters. However, as it stands now, it’s unlikely Gray can survive spring training with the Pirates with so much competition. He’ll probably start the year in Triple-A Indianapolis, just a phone call away.
The Last Word
Furthermore, with a full offseason ahead, this doesn’t mean Cherington is finished hunting for players who can help in 2025. Remember Lewin Diaz? Of course not! The Pirates claimed him off waivers from the Marlins in late November 2022 to compete for a spot as a first baseman. Ten days later, he was waived after the Pirates acquired Jiman Choi and signed Carlos Santana. Gray may well face a similar fate as the Pirates 2025 roster begins to come into focus.
Photo Credit: © D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
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