Doval joins the Pirates, along with cash considerations, with the Yankees receiving catcher prospect Omar Alfonzo and 18-year old outfielder propsect Luis Cruz, in the official trade on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
The Pirates will almost certainly make more moves, but Stratton is the first and one of a few players they’ll have to take off the 40-man roster.<\/p>\n
Why the Pirates DFA’d Stratton<\/p>\n
The Pirates brought Stratton back for his second tenure with the team, after they added him in a trade with the Atlanta Braves on June 18, who received catcher Joey Bart<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atlanta had already DFA’d Stratton and the Pirates moved on from Bart, so it made sense for both teams to give each other a player of need.<\/p>\n Aug 22, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Hunter Stratton (63) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The Pirates needed any bullpen help they could get, as they looked for moves in the months leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and Stratton was an easy addition for them.<\/p>\n Stratton also had experience with the Pirates, pitching in 47 games over three seasons, 2023-25, and was their 16th round draft pick in 2017 out of Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn.<\/p>\n The Pirates recalled<\/a> Stratton from Triple-A Indianapolis on July 4, as they placed left-handed relief pitcher Evan Sisk on the 15-day injured list.<\/p>\n Stratton made just two appearances for the Pirates this season, both against the Braves at PNC Park, July 7 and July 9. <\/p>\n He gave up a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning of the series opener, a 12-4 win for the Pirates, and got the final out of the fourth inning and threw a scoreless fifth inning in the 10-5 loss to the Braves in the series finale.<\/p>\n The Pirates optioned Stratton back to Indianapolis on July 10, and he pitched three times in Triple-A before the DFA.<\/p>\n Another MLB team could pick up Stratton and put him on their 40-man roster, which the Pirates could do by facilitating a trade, or if no one takes him, he’ll just rejoin the Pirates and stay in the minor leagues.<\/p>\n What Pirates Bullpen Looks lIke Now<\/p>\n The Pirates will have to make room on the 26-man roster for Doval, but it’s likely he doesn’t join the team until the series finale vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Aug. 2 or the series opener vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Aug. 3.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh currently has six right-handed pitchers in their bullpen, featuring Wilber Dotel, Ron Marinaccio, Isaac Mattson, Carmen Mlodzinski, Noah Murdock and Yohan Ram\u00edrez, plus two left-handed options in Mason Montgomery or Gregory Soto.<\/p>\n Jul 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Isaac Mattson (72) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The Pirates will likely send Murdock back down to Triple-A after they bring up Doval, but if they pitch Mattson tonight, they could send him back instead.<\/p>\n Expect the Pirates to make more moves<\/a> before the trade deadline, particularly targeting the bullpen. <\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01kyzk0fxrc3t19487dy.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
<\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01kyzksjbzbc6mcxx6zz.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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