Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Bryan Reynolds have agreed on the financials of a contract but an opt-out remains the issue. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's encouraging that the Pirates and Reynolds have at least made some strides in extension negotiations following the outfielder's trade request but the opt-out remains a sticking point. Reynolds started in left field on Opening Day and went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. An official extension for Reynolds would signal a major turnaround for a franchise that's been in rebuild mode for several seasons.

Andrew McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a RBI and three walks during Thursday's 5-4 win in Cincinnati.

Fantasy Impact: Playing in his first game as a Pirate since 2017, McCutchen singled and drew a bases-loaded walk for his first RBI of the year. The 36-year-old batted from the third spot as the designated hitter. His eagerly awaited return to PNC Park won't take place for another week, as the Pirates are on the road for the first two series of 2023.

Oneil Cruz went 1-for-2 with a solo homer, two RBI, two runs scored and two walks during Thursday's 5-4 win in Cincinnati.

Fantasy Impact: Atop the Opening Day lineup, Cruz flied out on the first pitch of the season but proceeded to be perfect going forward, sending a 101mph fastball to right-center for the Pirates' first run of the year. An eighth-inning sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh the lead for good. Cruz will be a mainstay at short following a mid-season promotion in 2022.

David Bednar yielded just one hit while striking out a pair during the ninth inning of Thursday's 5-4 Opening Day win over the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: Bednar earned his first save of the 2023 season, working around a one-out double in the ninth to preserve Pittsburgh's one-run lead. The 2022 All-Star had 17 saves through July last year before suffering a back injury that sidelined him for all but five games of the second-half. Bednar will continue to receive save opportunities whenever available.

Mitch Keller allowed four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out eight across 4 2/3 innings during Thursday's 5-4 Opening Day win against the Reds.

Fantasy Impact: Making his first career Opening Day start, Keller induced a key double play after allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base. The righty escaped the first only down run, though yielded a solo homer in the fourth and two more in the fifth before being removed without consideration for the win. Keller matched a 2021 season-high with eight strikeouts, a trend that also took place this spring where he sat down 20 batters in 15 1/3 innings. His next start will take place sometime next week, either in Fenway or at home verse the White Sox.

JT Brubaker (elbow) is expected to begin the season on the IL. (Source: Jason Mackey on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Brubaker is dealing with elbow and forearm discomfort in his throwing arm, which is "more than likely" to land the righty on the IL according to Pirates manager Derek Shelton. Brubaker finished second on the Pittsburgh pitching staff with 144 innings in 2022, posting a 4.69 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 22.8 K% over 28 starts.

Connor Joe exited Sunday’s game after being hit in the left hand with a pitch. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The team announced that he was removed from the game as a precaution and is considered day-to-day. Joe is a candidate to make the Pirates’ opening day roster, assuming the hand injury is not something that would force him to miss any time.

Cal Mitchell was optioned by the Pirates to Triple-A Indianapolis Sunday. (Source: MLB.com )

Fantasy Impact: Mitchell posted a .219 batting average with three RBI, and one stolen base in 32 at-bats this spring. The 24-year-old could see time in the Majors later in the year. Mitchell posted a .226 average, with five home runs, 17 RBI, and three stolen bases in 69 games last season.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Robert Stephenson threw a bullpen session Tuesday as he deals with right elbow discomfort. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Stephenson, a former first-round pick, is set to throw another side session before being evaluated from there. The right-hander has largely struggled to produce consistently at the big-league level as he owns a career 4.90 ERA across 211 career appearances. However, he does have an ERA of 3.76 or better, including a career-best 3.13 mark in 2021, while posting a K-rate above 30% twice in his career. The 30-year-old was a low-risk flyer for the rebuilding Bucs in 2023.

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Jarlin Garcia won't throw for at least several weeks due to left arm tightness. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Garcia exited Saturday's outing early due to tightness in his arm and it appears the injury is going to sideline him for quite some time despite tests on his elbow and shoulder coming back clean. It's certainly a rarity to see Garcia hit the injured list as he has made at least 53 appearances in each of the last three full seasons including 58 in each of the last two. Garcia turned in a 3.74 ERA across 65 innings with the Giants last season as his absence represents a significant blow for the Pirates bullpen.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Caleb Smith to a minor-league deal with an invite to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Smith has made 147 appearances including 64 starts at the big-league level since entering the league in 2017 but has struggled with consistency. The 31-year-old owns a career 4.55 ERA and 13.6% K-BB% across 447 innings but is coming off a strong 2022 season in which he posted a 4.11 ERA across 70 innings with the D-backs. He should get a good opportunity to contribute for the Pirates, likely out of the bullpen in 2023.

Kevin Plawecki and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a minor league contract. The veteran catcher will be at spring training as a non-roster invitee. (Source: Kevin Gorman on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Plawecki only appeared in three major league games during the 2022 season. The 31-year-old catcher has a career .235/.313/.341 slash line and likely will not have any fantasy value in 2023, barring injuries to the catchers ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited pitching prospect Quinn Priester to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Priester, the Bucs' fourth-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline's 60th-ranked prospect, pitched across four minor-league levels in 2022, spending the bulk of his campaign at Double-A. The 22-year-old right-hander turned in a 2.87 ERA/3.23 FIP with a 24% K% across 15 Double-A starts spanning 75 1/3 frames. He posted a 3.86 ERA across a pair of Triple-A starts where he could very well begin the 2023 campaign.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited prospect Temarr Johnson to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Johnson, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect and 26th-ranked MLB Pipeline prospect, reached Single-A in 2022 where he hit .275 with one homer, four steals, and an .846 OPS across 53 trips to the plate. Still just 18 years of age, it will be a slow burn for the young shortstop but he will get a sneak preview of the big leagues this spring before likely beginning the season back at the Single-A or High-A level.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited prospect Henry Davis to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Davis, the first overall pick from the 2021 MLB draft, played across four minor league levels in 2022. After throttling pitching at the Single-A and High-A levels, Davis reached Double-A where he hit .207 with four home runs, three steals, and a .703 OPS across 31 games. He'll likely start the 2023 season back at Double-A but it shouldn't be long before the Pirates give the current 23-year-old his first taste of big-league action.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited prospect Nick Gonzales to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Gonzales, the seventh overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft, reached the Double-A level in 2022, hitting .263 with seven homers, five steals, and an .812 OPS across 71 games. At 23 years of age, it shouldn't be long before he gets a taste of MLB action with a Pirates club set to give plenty of playing time to young players in 2023.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed utilityman Chris Owings to a minor-league deal. (Source: Alex Stumpf on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Owings' deal comes with an invite to big league camp. in parts of 10 MLB seasons, Owings owns a .239 lifetime average along with 37 home runs and 79 stolen bases across 712 appearances, most of which came with the Arizona D-backs. He spent the 2022 season with the Baltimore Orioles, hitting just .107 with no homers and one stolen base across 68 trips to the plate.

Zach Thompson has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for OF Chavez Young. RHP Junior Fernandez has been DFA'd by the Blue Jays to make room for Thompson. (Source: Toronto Blue Jays on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Thompson threw 121.2 innings for the Pirates in 2022, sporting a 5.18 ERA and a 90/46 K/BB ratio. He will join the Blue Jays bullpen and may serve as depth for the starting rotation in the event of an injury.

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Bryse Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Source: Milwaukee Brewers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Wilson was designated for assignment by the Pirates back on December 28. He posted a 5.52 ERA last season across 20 starts and 25 total appearances.

Michael Chavis has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals. He has a non-roster invite to spring training and can make up to $1 million if he makes the major league roster. (Source: Andrew Golden on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: He also has a June 1st out if he is not on the Major League roster. Chavis played 129 games with the Pirates last season, hitting .229 with 14 HRs and an 80 wRC+.