THE APEX TIMES
Pittsburgh used the first hours of the offseason to add a left-handed-hitting outfielder via waivers and immediately turn around with a separate pitching loss after Isaac Mattson was claimed by Seattle.
The Pirates’ offseason roster churn began with two waiver-related transactions. Pittsburgh claimed outfielder Akil Baddoo off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, adding a left-handed-batting option to its 40-man mix.
The same waiver period also produced a departure. The Pirates lost right-handed pitcher Isaac Mattson to the Seattle Mariners, opening the door for Pittsburgh’s subsequent 40-man recalibration.
Baddoo arrives in Pittsburgh after being selected in the 2016 MLB Draft as part of the Competitive Balance-B pool. He made his early MLB impact with Detroit, and his path to the Brewers included a Rule 5 Draft stop before Milwaukee signed him ahead of the 2026 season.
Injuries limited Baddoo’s 2026 availability, with the Pirates’ new acquisition having spent time on the 60-day injured list due to a left quad strain. He later produced a.252 average with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and an.818 OPS across 66 minor league games split between Triple-A Nashville and Milwaukee’s ACL affiliate.
Mattson, a Pitt alum from Erie, Pennsylvania, joined the Pirates organization on a minor league deal in December 2023. He debuted in the majors in 2021 with the Orioles and later spent time in the Twins’ system before landing in Pittsburgh.
According to the Pirates’ transaction context, Mattson’s 2025 breakout as a setup man included a 2.45 ERA in 47 2/3 innings, but his 2026 followed a different pattern, with a 5.35 ERA in 38 2/3 innings. He also hit the injured list late in the year with a right hip impingement.
With Baddoo added and Mattson gone, the club’s 40-man roster was reduced in size after other off-timed roster moves were also accounted for, leaving it at 38 players. The change sets up an ongoing battle for roles on Pittsburgh’s active roster going into 2027.
Monday also included a separate roster-management deadline element for Brandon Lowe, who received a qualifying offer and has until Nov. 17 to accept it, according to the same Pirates update.