The Pittsburgh Pirates’ recent 40-man roster churn continued this week, with two former depth pieces finding new homes.
The Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers after Pittsburgh designated him for assignment last month. Once a consensus top-15 prospect with the San Francisco Giants, Luciano’s bat never fully clicked in the upper minors, and with no options remaining, the Pirates ultimately couldn’t justify the roster squeeze.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng, another casualty of Pittsburgh’s December roster crunch. Cheng, a glove-first middle infielder with plate discipline and speed, was pushed off the 40-man in the wake of the Brandon Lowe trade and declining offensive production.