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Pirates December Minor League Signings (Part 1)

Pirates December Minor League Signings (Part 1)

Although the Pittsburgh Pirates have yet to make any noise in the Major League free agent market, general manager Ben Cherington has added some depth to the organization.

In mid-December, the Pirates signed a handful of minor league free agents who could find their way to Pittsburgh at some point during the 2025 season.

There are four free agents the Pirates have reached minor league deals with so far this month.

RHP Tanner Rainey

Rainey totaled 198 appearances over seven big league seasons, including the last six with the Washington Nationals. For his career, the right-hander is 5-10 with a 5.23 ERA, 236 strikeouts and 125 walks in 189.1 innings. He recorded a career-high 12 saves with the Nationals in 2022.

While Rainey has been a top pitcher during his career, the 31-year-old struck out just 44 batters in 51 innings last season and finished with a 4.76 ERA in 50 appearances.

His fastball velocity dropped in 2024, but the Pirates hope he can add some ticks to the pitch and give depth to the bullpen, an area that tends to shuffle pitchers as much as a dealer. blackjack does it at cards in Las Vegas.

RHP Hunter Stratton

After he went undrafted last month, the Pirates brought Stratton back in a minor league deal.

Stratton underwent season-ending surgery on the patellar tendon in his left knee in August and is expected to be sidelined until Opening Day or closer to the middle of the season.

Before his season-ending injury, Stratton was effective out of the Pirates bullpen. The right-hander went 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA in 36 appearances while exhibiting excellent command. He recorded his first career save on March 31 against the Marlins in Miami.

INF/OF Nick Solak

Solak did not appear in the major leagues last season, but played parts of five seasons from 2019-23, totaling a career-high 127 games in 2021. He was originally a second-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2016.

Over his career, Solak slashed .252/.327/.372 with 35 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 93 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 255 games.

Defensively, he offers great versatility. He appeared in games at first base, second base, third base, and left and center field.

RHP Carson Fulmer

The Pirates have agreed to a minor league deal with right-hander Carson Fulmer, as first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided on Friday. Fulmer spent time in the Pirates organization in 2020 but did not appear in any games in the big leagues.

Last season with the Angels, Fulmer, who turned 31 on Friday, pitched pretty well despite going 0-5. In 37 appearances/eight starts, Fulmer posted a 4.15 ERA in 86.1 innings pitched.

Fulmer was the eighth overall pick Project 2015 out of Vanderbilt.