Brewers' Josh VanMeter: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
VanMeter was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Brewers camp, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
VanMeter had been putting together an impressive spring, but he was always on the outside looking in for an Opening Day roster spot in Milwaukee. The 28-year-old slashed just .187/.266/.292 across 192 major-league plate appearances last season with the Pirates.
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Brewers' Josh VanMeter: Back in action Sunday
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VanMeter (lower leg) started at second base and struck out in all three of his plate appearances during Sunday's 5-3 win over the Cubs in Cactus League play.
VanMeter was back in action for the first time since Tuesday after tightness in his lower left leg kept him sidelined for a few days. The 28-year-old is competing for a spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster as a utility man, but he hasn't helped his cause by slashing .182/.333/.364 over seven games in the Cactus League thus far.
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Brewers' Josh VanMeter: Scratched with leg tendinitis
Rotowire
VanMeter was scratched from the Brewers' Cactus League lineup Thursday due to lower left leg tendinitis, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Andruw Monasterio will get the start at second base instead. This doesn't seem like a serious injury for VanMeter, but he is in Brewers camp this spring as a non-roster invitee and an extended absence from exhibition action will damage his opportunity to make a good impression.
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Josh VanMeter: Parts ways with Bucs
Rotowire
VanMeter elected free agency Oct. 6.
VanMeter's decision to test the open market comes about a month after he was outrighted off Pittsburgh's 40-man roster. The utility man appeared in 67 games at the big-league level in 2022, slashing .187/.266/.292 with three home runs and four stolen bases over 192 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Outrighted to Triple-A
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VanMeter cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The Pirates removed VanMeter from the 40-man roster earlier this week, and none of MLB's other 29 teams put in a waiver claim. With that, VanMeter will remain in the organization and attempt to claw his way back to the highest level eventually. The 27-year-old is a .206/.293/.347 career hitter in the majors.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Pirates designated VanMeter for assignment Wednesday.
He'll be removed from the 40-man roster and cede his spot on the 28-man active roster to infielder/outfielder Hoy Park, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. The 27-year-old VanMeter had posted a mediocre .558 OPS in 192 plate appearances in the big leagues this season and had largely become an afterthought for the Pirates in recent weeks. He started in just three times in Pittsburgh's last 22 games.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Draws rare start
Rotowire
VanMeter went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Sunday against the Blue Jays.
VanMeter earned his second consecutive start, but only his sixth since Aug. 2. He delivered a two-run double in the fourth inning to drive in his first run since July 25. For the season, VanMeter owns a .187/.266/.292 across 192 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Slips into reserve role
Rotowire
VanMeter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
The lefty-hitting VanMeter will be on the bench for the fourth time in five games, this time with a righty (Spenser Watkins) taking the hill for the opposition. Michael Chavis will get the nod at first base Sunday, but Bligh Madris -- who is manning right field in the series finale -- looks to be the preferred option at the position over both Chavis and VanMeter at the moment.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Stuck on bench again
Rotowire
VanMeter remains on the bench Friday against the Orioles, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
VanMeter has now been on the bench for three straight games, each of which has come against a right-hander. His .184/.267/.296 slash line suggests he doesn't deserve everyday at-bats. Bligh Madris, who had previously been fighting for time in the outfield corners, will make his third straight start at first base.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Takes seat Thursday
Rotowire
VanMeter isn't in the lineup Thursday against Milwaukee.
VanMeter has gone 1-for-4 with a run, a stolen base, three walks and three strikeouts over his last two games, but he'll retreat to the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Bligh Madris is shifting to first base while Greg Allen starts in center field.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
VanMeter isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers.
VanMeter is getting a day off after he went 1-for-4 with a run, a stolen base, three walks and three strikeouts over the last two games. Bligh Madris is starting at first base while Tucupita Marcano enters the lineup in left field.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Swipes third bag
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VanMeter went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Tuesday against the Brewers.
VanMeter retains a strong-side platoon role in Pittsburgh, and he started at first base while hitting eighth Tuesday. He reached base on a free pass and proceeded to steal second base -- his third of the season -- before coming around to score. It's unclear how long VanMeter will maintain his role with the Pirates, but he's hit just .103/.265/.154 in 18 games since July 1.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: On bench against left-hander
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VanMeter isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies.
VanMeter will head to the bench for a second consecutive game since left-hander Ranger Suarez is on the mound for the Phillies on Saturday. Michael Chavis is starting at first base and batting cleanup.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Sits against southpaw
Rotowire
VanMeter isn't starting Friday's game against the Phillies.
Most of VanMeter's recent starts have come against right-handed pitchers, and he'll get a day off with southpaw Bailey Falter on the mound for the Phillies. Michael Chavis is starting at first base and batting cleanup.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Remains on bench
Rotowire
VanMeter will sit Saturday against the Brewers.
VanMeter finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. His off day Friday against lefty Aaron Ashby came as no surprise, but the fact that he remains on the bench Saturday against righty Brandon Woodruff seemingly suggests he's dropping to a bench role. A decrease in playing time is seemingly deserved, as VanMeter is hitting just .197/.267/.320 through 44 games. Kevin Newman, who returned from a groin strain Friday, will make his second straight start at the keystone.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: On bench against southpaw
Rotowire
VanMeter isn't starting Friday's game against the Brewers.
VanMeter is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games with left-hander Aaron Ashby on the mound for Milwaukee. Kevin Newman is starting at the keystone and batting seventh.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Sits versus righty
Rotowire
VanMeter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
The lefty-hitting VanMeter took a seat against a southpaw starter (Aaron Ashby) in Saturday's 7-4 win, but he'll remain on the bench while the Pirates oppose a righty (Brandon Woodruff) in the series finale. Michael Chavis will pick up another start at first base at VanMeter's expense, but both players could soon be on the outs for playing time at the position with Yoshi Tsutsugo (back) expected to return from the injured list during the upcoming week.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Drives in one
Rotowire
VanMeter went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI on Monday against the Nationals.
VanMeter returned from a three-week absence caused by a finger injury. He immediately stepped into the starting lineup, batting seventh while playing first base. It would be a surprise to see VanMeter continue to get playing time over Michael Chavis -- who was out of the lineup Monday -- but he could cost both Hoy Park and Diego Castillo time at second base while Tucupita Marcano (illness) remains sidelined. Across 111 plate appearances this season, VanMeter has hit .218/.279/.366.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Comes off IL
Rotowire
The Pirates reinstated VanMeter (finger) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at first base and bat seventh in the Pirates' series opener in Washington.
VanMeter returns to the active roster after a completing a five-game rehab assignment last week at Triple-A Indianapolis, during which he went 2-for-18 with four walks, three runs and an RBI. The 27-year-old could reclaim the strong side of a platoon at second base now that he's recovered from a fractured left ring finger, though he's not a lock to stick around as a near-everyday player for long. Fellow left-handed hitter Tucupita Marcano (illness) is currently in the midst of a rehab assignment and could unseat VanMeter as the preferred option at the keystone once reinstated from the COVID-19-related IL.
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Pirates' Josh VanMeter: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
VanMeter (finger) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
VanMeter is ready for game action three weeks after fracturing his left ring finger. Prior to the injury, he'd hit a mediocre .214/.280/.357, and it's difficult to imagine he'll return to a regular role once healthy, especially with Oneil Cruz's arrival crowding the middle infield.
