Pirates Sign Catcher Ali Sánchez, Claim Pitcher Roddery Muñoz

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed catcher Ali Sánchez to a one-year contract for the 2024 season. Additionally, the club claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the Washington Nationals.

Sánchez spent the 2023 season with Triple-A Reno in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization. On the year, he hit .311 with an .867 OPS, 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 67 games.

Sánchez has seven games of major league experience under his belt between the 2020-21 seasons with the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. As a big leaguer, he’s collected three hits in 13 at-bats. Two of his three hits have gone for doubles.

The 26-year-old has a strong defensive reputation dating back to his days as a prospect. Last season in Reno, Sánchez committed only one error in 460 chances and threw out 34% of attempted base stealers.

He joins a catching mix on the Pirates’ 40-man roster that includes Endy Rodríguez, Jason Delay and Henry Davis.

As for Muñoz, he has yet to reach the big leagues but has pitched in the minor leagues for five seasons. For his career, the 6-foot-2 right-hander is 14-19 with a 5.02 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 287 innings pitched.

This past season, the 23-year-old split time between the Atlanta Braves and Nationals minor league systems and combined to go 4-6 with  a 5.42 ERA in 78 innings across 34 appearances/14 starts. He struck out 81 batters and struggled with control, as evident by his 53 free passes issued.

The Pirates had a few open spots on their 40-man roster, so no corresponding moves were necessary. Their roster now sits at 38 players.