Pirates Designate Cam Sanders For Assignment

The Pirates have designated right-hander Cam Sanders for assignment, and moved shortstop Konnor Griffin from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.  The two moves clear roster spots for Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert, who were acquired yesterday from the White Sox.

After making his MLB debut by posting an 8.10 ERA over 6 2/3 innings in 2025, things haven’t improved for Sanders in his second year of big league action.  The righty has an 8.68 ERA over 9 1/3 innings and nine appearances, with an even more garish walk rate in 2026 (20.8%) than in 2025 (14.7%).

Sanders’ strikeout rate at least vaulted upwards from 11.8% in his first season to 27.1% this year.  This is more in line with his performance in the minor leagues, though Sanders also hasn’t exhibited much control over eight seasons in the Cubs’ and Pirates’ farm systems.  The 29-year-old has a 5.04 ERA, 29.35K%, and 18.18BB% over 223 career Triple-A innings.

The DFA comes a day after Sanders was optioned to Triple-A for the maximum fifth time this season, making him expendable in the Pirates’ view.  This is the first time Sanders has been designated for assignment and he has never been outrighted in the past, so he’d have to accept an assignment to Triple-A if he clears waivers.  A waiver claim isn’t out of the question if another team is intrigued by Sanders’ strikeout ability, but chances are Sanders will remain in Pittsburgh’s organization.

It was just a matter of time before Griffin was moved to the 60-day IL, as the shortstop is expected to miss 8-10 weeks due to a torn finger tendon.  The 60-day placement means Griffin is out until the first week of September at the absolute earliest.