Bucs’ roster officially reaches 40-man limit
From Mirror, wire reports
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates added left-handed pitcher Tim Mayza to the 40-man roster on a one-year contract for the 2025 season Monday.
The 33-year-old Mayza has posted a career record of 20-9 with four saves, a 3.88 ERA and 304 strikeouts in 367 appearances with Toronto (2017-24) and the New York Yankees (2024).
Mayza went a combined 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in 50 appearances last season between Toronto and the New York Yankees.
He also posted a 2.67 ERA in 193 appearances between 2021-23, which was the thirdlowest among all left-handed relievers with at least 120 innings pitched in MLB behind Josh Hader (2.45) and Matt Moore (2.57).
Infielder Alika Williams was designated for assignment to make room for Mayza on the 40-man roster.
Elsewhere:
n Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. MLB opened the investigation last February when it was brought to its attention by the sportsbook, and Hoberg did not umpire last season. While MLB said the investigation did not uncover evidence Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill recommended on May 24 that Hoberg be fired. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday he upheld Hill’s decision. Among the highest-rated umpires at judging the strike zone, Hoberg can apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026 spring training.
n Infielder Jorge Polanco and the Seattle Mariners have finalized a $7.75 million, one-year contract. A 31-year-old second baseman who also has played at shortstop and third base, Polanco hit a career-low .213 last season with 16 home runs and 45 RBIs in 118 games. Polanco gets a $7 million salary, and the agreement includes a $6 million conditional player option for 2026 with a $750,000 buyout. The option price would escalate to $8 million if he has 550 or more plate appearances in 2025.
n Former major league infielder Rich Dauer has died at 72. He played a decade in the major leagues and won a World Series as a player with Baltimore and as a coach with Houston. The Orioles announced Dauer’s death Monday. They did not announce a cause of death. Dauer was a first base coach for the Astros when they won the World Series in 2017. Shortly after that, he had emergency surgery on a blood clot in his brain. MLB.com reported in 2023 that he had recently had a significant stroke. Dauer played for the Orioles from 1976-85.