This article was updated at 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
BRADENTON, Fla. — Inching closer to Friday's deadline to clear 40-man roster space for prospects they'll need to protect from the Rule 5 draft, the Pirates made a few roster moves on Tuesday.
None of them came as a surprise, either.
The Pirates released catcher Taylor Davis, utility man Phillip Evans and pitcher Tanner Anderson, opening three spots or roughly a third of what will eventually need to be cleared by Friday at 6 p.m.
Evans hit .359 over 11 games in 2020 and used a strong spring training to make the opening day roster for the second consecutive year. However, Evans struggled to replicate that same success and finished the season with Class AAA Indianapolis after hitting just .206 with a .611 OPS in 76 MLB games.
Evans played 87 games with the Pirates over the past two seasons, hitting .229 with six home runs, 25 RBIs and a .660 OPS. The Pirates used Evans at third base, first, left field, right and even had him pitch one inning.
The Pirates signed Anderson to a minor league free agent contract in July. He appeared in one major league game, allowing two earned runs over five innings on Sept. 30 against the Cubs. Davis, whom the Pirates acquired for minor league outfielder Jose Berroa in June, appeared in just two games this season and collected two hits in five at-bats.
The Pirates' 40-man roster now has 37 players.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: November 16, 2021, 8:23 p.m.
