Pirates Expected To Non-Tender Bryan De La Cruz, Connor Joe
The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to non-tender outfielder Bryan De La Cruz and first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe, according to a source. It will make both players free agents this winter. De La Cruz didn't impress the Bucs after the acquired him from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline in the summer, as he hit just .200/.220/.394 with three homers, 17 RBI and 52 strikeouts in 168 plate appearances in the second half. The 27-year-old did manage a career-high 21 round-trippers in 149 total games in 2024, though, so he will attract interest on the free-agent market. Joe, 32, hit .238/.330/.396 with a .726 OPS, 20 homers, 78 RBI and five steals in 256 games the last two years in Pittsburgh and will look for a platoon/utility role with another organization on the free-agent market. The former first-rounder had a career-high 11 homers in 2023 in his first year in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a two-run homer in Sunday's loss against the Cubs. Joe came up big in the bottom of the 10th inning when he opened it up with a two-run rocket to the bleachers off Adbert Alzolay to open the frame, but it would not be enough to secure the Pirates a victory. Joe has quietly been off to a very good start for the Pirates and has mostly hit no lower than fourth in the lineup this season. For the year, he is hitting .292 with five homers, 20 RBI and two stolen bases to go along with a healthy .866 OPS. Although he isn't the sexiest name, Joe has been having a good enough season to be rostered in deeper mixed leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Connor Joe will man right field and will be leading off for the Pirates Opening Day game on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Joe will get the call as the Pirates face southpaw Jesus Luzardo. If the 31-year-old can get off to a hot start, he could be the everyday leadoff man against left-handed pitchers this year.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Washington Nationals and right-hander Jackson Rutledge, who is making his MLB debut this evening in Pittsburgh. Joe got the starting nod at first base on Tuesday but had a tough night, going 0-for-4 with a walk while stranding a whopping eight Pirates baserunners. There's little doubt that Joe has been far more productive against southpaws than he has against right-handers, considering his .824 OPS, .358 wOBA, and 123 wRC+ off lefties but only a .688 OPS, .302 wOBA, and below-average 86 wRC+ off righties. Alfonso Rivas will take over at first base and hit eighth Wednesday night.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe is slashing .357/.446/.643 with two home runs, eight RBI, 13 runs scored, and a stolen base over 17 games in 2023. He has been wielding a hot bat recently and logged a multi-hit effort in three of his last five games. The 30-year-old continues to hit in the middle of Pittsburgh's lineup that has exceeded expectations so far this season. Joe's 53.5% hard-hit percentage in 2023 is in the 91 percentile, up about 20 points from last season (33.8% in 2022). The Pirates are set to take on Reds' right-hander Hunter Greene in Sunday's matchup. Joe should be added in all league formats while swinging a hot bat and makes an intriguing DFS option at his DraftKings price tag of $4,100 for Sunday's main DFS slate.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe from the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Nick Garcia. Joe had eight home runs in his first year in Colorado in just 63 games played in 2021, but he was rather disappointing in his first full major-league campaign this year. The 30-year-old finished the 2022 season with a .238/.338/.359 slash line with a .697 OPS, seven home runs, 28 RBI, 56 runs scored and six stolen bases in 467 plate appearances and 111 games. Joe has also had reverse splits and has been more productive against right-handed pitching in his three big-league seasons. Joe's move from Coors Field to PNC Park will be a big downgrade for his overall fantasy value, but he should be a near everyday player for the rebuilding Bucs.
Brendan Rodgers Activated, Connor Joe Goes On Injured List
The Colorado Rockies activated second baseman Brendan Rodgers (hamstring) from the injured list on Thursday and placed outfielder Connor Joe (ribs) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Rodgers went on the IL a week ago and will be back for the final handful of games in the 2022 regular season. It remains to be seen if he'll be back in the starting lineup on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. The 26-year-old is returning to a .261/.319/.396 slash line with 11 homers, 61 RBI and 68 runs in 502 at-bats this year. Joe will miss the rest of the regular season with his injury. He'll finish his season hitting .238/.338/.359 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, 56 runs scored and six stolen bases in 111 games in his second season in Colorado.
Colorado Rockies outfielder and first baseman Connor Joe isn't starting on Monday for a matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Adrian Houser. Joe is hitting .242 with a .342 on-base percentage, six home runs, and six stolen bases in 450 plate appearances this season. Sean Bouchard will draw the start in left field instead and hit sixth against the Brewers. So far this season, the 26-year-old is hitting .150 with a .370 on-base percentage and a home run in his first 27 Major League plate appearances.
Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe had a strong game Friday, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk in a 7-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. The solo shot was Joe's sixth of the year to go with a .708 OPS, 53 runs scored, 25 RBI and six stolen bases. It's been a struggle of late for Joe, who got off to a torrid start to the 2022 campaign with a .272/.359/.506 slash line in April. At this point, Joe should be on waiver wires in all but the deepest of formats.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Connor Joe is sitting out on Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Joe, who also missed Saturday's contest, has only played three games in August due to general soreness so that's the likely reason why he's sitting out on Sunday. He's really struggled over the last 15 games as well, slashing just .130/.238/.222 with four RBI over 54 at-bats. Yonathan Daza is starting in center field and batting leadoff in his place.
