BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates reduced their spring training roster to 37 players Saturday by optioning outfielder Steve Pearce and catcher Robinzon Diaz to Triple-A Indianapolis and assigning infielder Anderson Machado to their minor league camp.
Diaz was sent down after the Pirates settled on Jason Jaramillo as catcher Ryan Doumit's backup. Jaramillo was acquired during the offseason from the Phillies for former Pirates starting catcher Ronny Paulino, was dealt by Philadelphia to San Francisco on Friday for reliever Jack Taschner.Jaramillo is a better defensive catcher than Diaz, although Diaz was a much better hitter this spring with a .423 average to Jaramillo's .143.
"Where we are right now with our pitching staff, we felt like we needed a defender first," said general manager Neal Huntington, who expects Diaz to be in the majors sometime this summer.
Pearce was unable to break into a now-crowded outfield that added Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe during the offseason and is expected to play first base at Indianapolis. Pearce hit .212 this spring with no homers and three RBIs.
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