BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates are beginning to clear spots on the 40-man roster ahead of Friday’s deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft, releasing utilityman Phillip Evans, catcher Taylor Davis and right-hander Tanner Anderson.
These will not be the only roster moves the club makes ahead of the deadline, but it does clear some much-needed space for prospects ahead of the roster crunch.
None of these moves are particularly surprising, especially Anderson and Davis. After signing a minor-league deal with the Pirates midseason and pitching for their Class AAA affiliate in Indianapolis for most of the season, the 28-year-old was promoted in late September and ate some innings in his only major league outing of the season.
Davis was also a late-season addition after Jacob Stallings was placed on the concussion injured list late in the season and only received six big league plate appae
Evans, 29, earned a spot on the expanded roster during the 2020 season, and while he hit .359 over his 11 games played that year, his season came to a close when he fractured his jaw after colliding with Gregory Polanco while trying to catch a popup.
Evans had a terrific spring training with the Pirates to earn his second straight opening day roster spot, and while he started hot, he quickly fizzled out, slashing only .206/.312/.299 with five home runs and 16 RBIs over 247 plate appearances in the majors.
He was optioned to the minors in early August, and while he was initially called up as rosters expanded in September, he was optioned back soon after, more or less sealing his fate with the organization.
The deadline to protect Rule 5-eligible prospects is this Friday at 6 p.m.
The Pirates' roster is now at 37 players.
As for who will take their spots on the roster, my most recent Mound Visit focuses on which Rule 5-eligible prospects could have their contracts selected. I also included Evans and Anderson as likely non-tender candidates in a roster examination.
