Pirates Option Struggling Veteran Pitcher For 29-Year-Old Rookie originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates made another bullpen shake-up on Friday.Pittsburgh announced a roster move before starting a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Pirates recalled Cam Sanders and optioned Jose Urquidy to Triple-A Indianapolis.Urquidy joined the Pirates on a one-year, $1.5 million contract this offseason.

While he didn't make the starting rotation, the 30-year-old cracked the Opening Day roster as a reliever.Urquidy returned from Tommy John surgery last September after missing all of the 2024 campaign. The Pirates hoped to receive some semblance of the pitcher who registered a 3.62 ERA in 2021 and helped the Houston Astros win the World Series the following year.Instead, Urquidy allowed 15 hits and 10 runs (six earned) over 6 1/3 shaky innings. He surrendered four of those runs in mop-up duty during Monday's 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals.The Pirates responded by optioning Urquidy to Indianapolis and promoting Sanders, who allowed two runs while tallying 11 strikeouts in six innings this season.

He'll return to Pittsburgh after permitting nine hits, five walks and six runs in the only 6 2/3 innings of his big league career last year.The 29-year-old righty joins a revamped Pirates bullpen that has recorded a 3.54 ERA and 25.6 percent strikeout rate in 2026. Sanders represents this week's second tweak, as the Pirates recalled Evan Sisk to replace Hunter Barco on Monday.More MLB: Pirates Newcomer Finally Busts Horrific Slump With First Homer Of 2026