The Pittsburgh Pirates made multiple roster moves ahead of their home opener against the New York Yankees, adding outfielder Alexander Canario to their 26-man active roster Thursday.
To make room for Canario, who was acquired Monday from the New York Mets, the Pirates optioned infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae to Triple-A Indianapolis. In addition, catcher Jason Delay was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
The 6-foot, 212-pound Canario batted .286/.333/.524 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in 21 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2023-24. That included going 2 for 4 with five RBIs, including a grand slam, in a 14-1 win over the Pirates on Sept. 19, 2023 — the second game of his major-league career.
Canario, 24, was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Feb. 20 and traded to the Mets five days later. The Mets designated him March 27 and traded him to the Pirates.
The 25-year-old Bae made the Opening Day roster after a strong spring training, batting .381/.422/.595 with six doubles and three stolen bases in 20 Grapefruit League games. But he was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in two games for the Pirates this season.
The 30-year-old Delay, a 2017 fourth-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt, batted .231/.295/.315 with 20 doubles, two home runs and 35 RBIs in 134 games for the Pirates from 2022-24. He made the 2024 Opening Day roster but was sidelined by knee surgery and played only seven games in the majors. Delay started the season at Triple-A Indianapolis but was designated for assignment Tuesday to make room on the 40-man roster for right-handed pitcher Thomas Harrington.