Ron Marinaccio keeps knocking Dennis Santana off of MLB rosters

Relief pitcher Dennis Santana. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ron Marinaccio keeps knocking Dennis Santana off of MLB rosters

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 24, 2026 8:52 PM ET

Dennis Santana has to be feeling a sense of deja vu right now. It is probably not a good feeling.

Santana was designated for assignment on Thursday by the Pittsburgh Pirates after the team traded for relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres. It was a needed move for the Pirates as they try to solve their season-long bullpen woes, with Santana's struggles being one of the biggest issues.

What makes it even more noteworthy, and quite frankly bizarre, is that this is not the first time Santana has been designated for assignment to make room for Marinaccio.

It has now happened with two different organizations.

Ron Marinaccio keeps knocking Dennis Santana off of MLB rosters

The story begins on June 9, 2024, when the New York Yankees recalled Marinaccio from Triple-A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The corresponding roster move?

Designating Santana for assignment, a move that ultimately helped him arrive in Pittsburgh.

Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
• Recalled RHP Ron Marinaccio (#97) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
• Designated RHP Dennis Santana for assignment.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 9, 2024

Now, just a little more than two years later, Santana is again getting designated for assignment because of Marinaccio.

To make room on the 40-Man Roster, we have designated RHP Dennis Santana for assignment.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 23, 2026

Obviously, it is not Marinaccio's fault, and it is not like he is purposely following Santana around and trying to sabotage his career, but it is still a bizarre little piece of absurdity that it has happened two different times.

The odds of it are staggering, especially given how little Marinaccio has actually pitched in his Major League Baseball career (just 172 innings in 141 career games over parts of five seasons).

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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