Pirates drop four pitchers, including Kim, Wright

The Pirates made a series of moves to all but firm up their opening roster.

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Byung-Hyun Kim and Jaret Wright were quietly exiting the Pittsburgh Pirates’ clubhouse Wednesday at nearly the same time Doug Mientkiewicz began packing his many gloves for opening day.

The Pirates all but firmed up their season-opening roster by making a series of moves that included releasing Kim, right-handers Wright and Hector Carrasco and left-hander Juan Perez. Wright, a former Indians and Braves starter who failed to win a bullpen job, is deciding whether to accept an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis.

In other moves, infielder Josh Wilson was designated for assignment, infielder Jorge Valendia was reassigned to the minor league camp and right-hander Tyler Yates was acquired from Atlanta for Double-A pitcher Todd Redmond to be a setup man in the bullpen.

Right-hander Masumi Kuwata, the former Jap, Wrighttar who turns 40 Monday, also announced his retirement a year after becoming the oldest player to make his major league debut in 47 years.

Mientkiewicz, a utility player who has worked this spring on playing the outfield, also was told he would be on the opening day roster — a move that was expected all spring.

“He’s shown good athleticism, he’s trimmed down, and is probably in the best shape he’s been in years,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “He can give us quality veteran at-bats off the bench, is serviceable at third base and is a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman.”

Mientkiewicz, 33, has played the outfield only three times in 942 career games but has appeared in both left field and right field this spring.

“It’s a little different — every other year I’ve been a starter and it’s been a given when I got to camp I was going [north], so this was a little different,” said Mientkiewicz, who signed with Pittsburgh because he was strongly influenced by new Pirates manager John Russell while in the minor leagues.

The Pirates’ 13 position players and five-man rotation are set, while three relievers — left-handers Sean Burnett and Phil Dumatrait and Rule Five right-hander Even Meek — are competing for the two remaining bullpen spots.

Kim, the former Diamondbacks and Red Sox closer, was brought in last month to add a veteran’s presence to the bullpen. But he never seemed comfortable, unable to keep his fastball down in the strike zone while going 1-1 with a 14.40 ERA and five homers allowed in five innings.

Kim made only one scoreless appearance, retiring all three Yankees batters he faced Sunday, though none were regulars. He also took nearly five days to get into camp after agreeing to his contract, then didn’t do much when he got there.

“He didn’t pitch well. We felt he could compete to make our club but in that competition, he was outpitched by other guys and adding Yates made it that much easier of a decision,” Huntington said.

The Pirates owe Kim a $300,000 termination payment. His non-guaranteed contract would have paid him $850,000, with more than twice that possible in incentives.

“Obviously, financially it’s a hit, but we’re trying to take the right 12 [pitchers] north,” Huntington said.

Perez was effective late last season while pitching in 17 games, but may need elbow surgery. The 38-year-old Carrasco didn’t allow a run in his final six appearances but was crowded out by younger pitchers.

Kuwata, a former winner of Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award, had a 9.43 ERA in 19 Pirates games last season.