{"id":106353,"date":"2025-08-26T18:55:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T22:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=106353"},"modified":"2025-08-26T18:55:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T22:55:28","slug":"pirates-dfa-andrew-heaney-reactivate-oneil-cruz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/26\/pirates-dfa-andrew-heaney-reactivate-oneil-cruz\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates DFA Veteran Pitcher, Reactivate Star from IL, Among Other Moves"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a flurry of roster moves today, the headliner being the designation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/heanean01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew Heaney<\/a> for assignment. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cruzon01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oneil Cruz<\/a> was also reactivated from the concussion injured list after completing a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moretda01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dauri Moreta<\/a> was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Heaney\u2019s bullpen spot. To make room for Cruz, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/simonro01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ronny Sim\u00f3n<\/a> was returned to Indy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_84232\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-84232\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-84232\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres-300x183.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"507\" height=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres-1024x626.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres-1536x939.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/USATSI_24040808_168400885_lowres.jpg 1598w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-84232\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Oneil Cruz (15) hits a double during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Pirates Designate Andrew Heaney for Assignment<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We have ended the rehab assignment of OF Oneil Cruz and activated him from the concussion injured list, and RHP Dauri Moreta has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, OF Ronny Simon was optioned to Indianapolis following Monday night&#8217;s game at St. Louis, and\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Pirates\/status\/1960420694061400169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It made sense for the Pirates to finally move on from the veteran left-hander Heaney, 34. The Pirates <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/02\/20\/pirates-sign-veteran-left-hander-andrew-heaney\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">signed<\/a> him to a one-year, $5.25 million deal before the season. Early on, he looked like a bargain. In his first 10 games, he was 3-3 with a 2.91 ERA, although his 4.07 FIP indicated trouble was on the horizon. Indeed, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/08\/pirates-face-decision-veteran-andrew-heaney\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">there was plenty of it<\/a> from June 19 through August 11, when he posted an 8.19 ERA in 10 starts. During that time, he lasted just 40 2\/3 innings and gave up a shocking 13 home runs.<\/p>\n<p>Heaney was then moved to the bullpen, a role for which he was ill-suited. Surprisingly, he wasn\u2019t dealt at the trade deadline. The official explanation from general manager Ben Cherington was that the Pirates didn\u2019t need to trade him, and the younger pitchers would benefit from having Heaney around to answer questions. However, after a disastrous outing Monday evening in St. Louis, when he gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning, the Pirates saw enough. It\u2019s now clear that the explanation given for not trading Heaney was pure hogwash. Presumably, Pirates pitchers can still <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/iphone\/send-and-reply-to-messages-iph82fb73ba3\/ios\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">text<\/a> him with any questions. He ends his Pirates career with a 5-10 record, 5.39 ERA, and 1.363 WHIP.<\/p>\n<h3>Pirates Reactivate Cruz<\/h3>\n<p>Center fielder Cruz was injured on August 12 at PNC Park when he and left fielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suwinja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Suwinski<\/a> collided heads while diving for a shallow fly ball. Despite slashing .207\/.304\/.398, he leads the Pirates with 18 home runs and the National League with 34 stolen bases. The Pirates\u2019 tepid offense has picked up lately, scoring 37 runs in their last eight games. Even so, seeing Cruz in their batting order will be a welcome sight for Pittsburgh. The big man is in Tuesday\u2019s lineup, hitting cleanup.<\/p>\n<h3>More in the Latest Episode of \u201cAs the Roster Turns\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s a tough break for the switch-hitting Sim\u00f3n, who got a good look at the corner outfield spots and in the leadoff spot of the batting order. Not that the 25-year-old set the world on fire. He was just 7-for-30 in his seven games. Still, his .233 average far exceeds that of fellow outfielders Suwinski and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/canaral01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexander Canario<\/a>. But for better or worse, the Pirates are strangely committed to those two struggling outfielders.<\/p>\n<p>The right-handed Moreta pitched well for the Pirates in 2023, with a 3.72 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 1.086 WHIP, and 31.8 percent strikeout rate. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from pitching in the majors again until August 2. He made five relief appearances before being <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/11\/pirates-reinstate-shugart-from-il\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">returned<\/a> to Triple-A on August 11. Moreta is an interesting choice, given that the jettisoning of Heaney leaves the Pirates without a left-hander in the bullpen. Then again, the Pirates are looking toward 2026. They\u2019re making decisions they probably wouldn\u2019t make if they were playing meaningful games.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mayzati01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tim Mayza<\/a>, who, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lawreju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-08-26_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Lawrence<\/a>, had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A, could be the bullpen left-hander. The guess here, however, is that we\u2019ve seen the last of this duo in a Pittsburgh uniform.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a flurry of roster moves today, the headliner being the designation of Andrew Heaney for assignment. Oneil Cruz was also reactivated from the concussion injured list after completing a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. Dauri Moreta was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Heaney\u2019s bullpen spot. To make room for Cruz, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":105055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,926,1071,35],"tags":[5062,4903,3215,6380,5720,6342,3434,5901],"class_list":["post-106353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-milb","category-mlb","category-news","tag-alexander-canario","tag-andrew-heaney","tag-ben-cherington","tag-dauri-moreta","tag-jack-suwinski","tag-justin-lawrence","tag-oneil-cruz","tag-tim-mayza"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106353"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106365,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106353\/revisions\/106365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}