Pittsburgh Pirates claim infielder from A's

Title: Pittsburgh Pirates claim infielder from A's The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed infielder Tristan Gray from the Oakland Athletics (A's) after he was previously drafted by them in 2017. Gray has played 17 MLB games, with a batting average of .152 and a .222 on-base percentage, indicating struggles at the major league level. In 2024, Gray had a particularly poor performance with the Marlins and A's, hitting a combined .107 in the big leagues, though he showed better stats in Triple-A with a .251 average and a .789 OPS. Currently, Gray is not projected to be on the Pirates' 26-man roster and is expected to spend more time in the minor leagues, with two options remaining. An internal competition existed between Gray and CJ Alexander for a potential role at third base for the A's, with both players claimed off waivers recently. Alexander made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals and had limited success, but he performed well in Triple-A, hitting .294 with three home runs and a .410 OBP. The A's are in need of a solid third baseman as it is considered their weakest position heading into 2025, with several options but no clear standout. The chances of Alexander replicating the success of Brent Rooker, another waiver claim who became a top hitter, are viewed as unlikely. The A's may seek external upgrades for the third base position, given the current roster's limitations. Convincing players to join the A's and play in Sacramento presents a challenge, as the team looks to improve its roster.

Original Article: https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/news/pittsburgh-pirates-claim-infielder-from-a-s-01jbk5wbsde9

Original Article Author: Jason Burke