The Pittsburgh Pirates have released three minor league players, including a 2013 draft pick and two out of independent ball.
Matt Nevarez is the most interesting name to be cut. He has a fastball that sits mid-90’s, but control has always been an issue. The Pirates signed him last year out of independent ball and he pitched briefly at Altoona, then spent the off-season pitching winter ball in Venezuela. Despite turning 28 just over a month ago, he already had ten seasons in at the minor league level. Nevarez hasn’t been able to put it all together, striking out 11 batters per nine innings over his career, while holding them to a .205 BAA, but he has also issued 156 walks in 211.2 innings.
The Pirates also cut two catchers, Andrew Dennis and Dwight Childs. Dennis was a 37th round pick in 2013, who had trouble staying on the field due to injuries. He was on the injured squad during Spring Training this year as well. In two seasons, he played just 21 games and had a .512 OPS. Childs had his contract purchased in February from an independent league team and he last played affiliated ball in 2012 for the Cleveland Indians.