The Pirates have moved on from Camil Doval, designating the right-hander for assignment on Tuesday after a short run in Pittsburgh that began with a deadline deal from the Yankees.
Pittsburgh also reinstated veteran reliever Kirby Yates from the injured list, according to the team announcement.
Doval’s time with the Pirates produced a 3.79 ERA over 19 innings, along with 23 strikeouts and 14 walks. The control issues that followed him into Pittsburgh have been part of the story for a while now, even though the raw stuff still flashed at times.
At his peak, Doval looked every bit like a late-inning weapon. He saved 39 games and posted a 2.93 ERA for the San Francisco Giants in 2023, the kind of season that had him tracking as a star closer in the making.
But the last few years have been less steady, and his struggles with command clearly played a role in how his value shifted. Before the trade, the Yankees had already stopped using him in high-leverage spots.
Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors questioned the timing of the move, writing, "It would appear that the Pirates weren’t planning to tender him a contract for next year. Even if they were planning to non-tender him in November, it’s a bit strange to cut him from the roster now," McDonald wrote.
He also added, "There are several other pitchers in the bullpen who have options and could have been easily sent down for the final days of the season."
Any team that claims Doval would not be able to use him in the postseason.
The Pirates are already out of postseason contention, but their offense was one of the best in the Majors for much of the year. Even so, the club may still need to keep tinkering with its pitching staff as it looks ahead to 2027.
In Other News...
Pirates Fans Have A Prospect Worth Watching In Arizona
The Arizona Fall League is about to open its 34th season on Oct. 3, and for Pirates fans it offers one more place to track a young player before the offseason really settles in. The league has long been a proving ground for prospects who are close to the big leagues, and this year's group includes plenty of names worth monitoring around the game, from Eduardo Quintero to Zyhir Hope and Caleb Bonemer.
For Pittsburgh, the real draw is the chance to keep tabs on an under-the-radar talent with a chance to make some noise in the desert. The AFL often gives players a final stage to build momentum after a strong year, and the Pirates' interest is obvious anytime one of their prospects gets a shot in a league known for turning promise into a faster path to the majors. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Already Moving On From A Deadline Bullpen Addition
The Pirates made another bullpen adjustment on September 22, designating right-handed reliever Camilo Doval for assignment while activating Kirby Yates from the injured list. Doval had only been in Pittsburgh since the August 1 trade with the Yankees, and his stint came after the club picked him up to help stabilize a relief corps that has been in constant flux.
Instead, the move points straight toward the offseason and the bigger rebuild of the bullpen that still awaits. Dovals time with the Pirates ended after he logged a 3.79 ERA over 19 innings, and Pittsburgh is already signaling that it plans to keep searching for more reliable late-inning answers as it looks ahead to next year. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Prospect Murf Gray Is Rising Faster Than Fans Expected
Murf Grays first professional season gave the Pirates plenty to feel good about, and not just because he ended the year in Double-A Altoona. The 2026 rise was quick even by the standards of a prospect who keeps forcing his way up the ladder, as Gray moved through three levels while putting together a .305 average, a .969 OPS and 32 home runs.
The production was enough to land Gray on MLB Pipelines Top 100 Prospects list, but the numbers only tell part of why he has gotten attention inside the organization. Pirates director of coaching and player development Michael Chernow pointed to Grays growth on both sides of the ball, noting improvements in his hitting and defense as the season went on, which is exactly the kind of progression that can turn a fast riser into a real factor in the system. [Read more 🡒]