In a move to reduce their arbitration responsibilities and add depth in the middle infield, the Pirates acquired Justin Sellers from the Cleveland Indians Saturday in exchange for cash considerations.
The Pirates also activated Charlie Morton from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for Sellers and Morton, who had surgery in late September to repair the labrum in his right hip, on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-handers Jeanmar Gomez and John Axford for assignment. Axford and Gomez were eligible for salary arbitration, and the moves lowered the number of arbitration-eligible Pirates to 11.
Sellers, 28, played in the majors for parts of four seasons with the Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers. He had 21 major league plate appearances in 2014. In 395 plate appearances for Class AAA Columbus this season, he hit .254 with a .307 on-base percentage and .335 slugging percentage.
In 2013, Sellers hit .270 with a .326 on-base percentage, six home runs and 26 doubles at Class AAA Albuquerque in the Dodgers organization. The Indians acquired him from the Dodgers in March. Sellers plays mostly shortstop in addition to second and third base. Adding him gives the Pirates some depth in the middle infield, behind Jordy Mercer and Neil Walker, with Clint Barmes a free agent and Josh Harrison possibly assuming the role of everyday third baseman.
The Pirates claimed Axford, 31, off waivers from the Indians in August. He struck out 12 batters in 11 innings with the Pirates but walked six and allowed five runs. He was up for the third out of four years of arbitration because he previously qualified as a Super Two player. Axford made $4.5 million last season.
Gomez, 26, joined the Pirates in a trade from the Indians in January 2013. He pitched 62 innings in 44 games this season, posting a 3.19 ERA, and would have been arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Harrison, Walker, Pedro Alvarez, Ike Davis, Mark Melancon and Tony Watson, in addition to five others, are eligible for arbitration this year, which will cause a sizable increase in salary obligations. Removing Axford and Gomez reduces the potential arbitration cost.
By designating Axford and Gomez for assignment, the Pirates removed them from the 40-man roster. The Pirates can trade them, and if they clear waivers, they can release them, but both players can reject any potential outright assignment to the minors and elect free agency because they have more than three years of major league service time.
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: October 25, 2014, 3:09 p.m.
Updated: October 26, 2014, 1:22 a.m.
