The New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder Edward Olivares to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring camp. The 28-year-old played the first half of last season for the Pirates before being optioned to Triple-A in July. He hit .263 with 12 home runs in 2023 for the Royals over 107 games, and while he hit .344 with three home runs over the first nine games in 2024, the right-handed hitter was unable to maintain that momentum over the course of the season. For his career, the Venezuelan has shown some better pop against left-handed pitching, with a .440 SLG and .199 ISO against them compared to a .389 SLG and .128 ISO versus righties, so he could fit into a platoon role were he able to make it back to the majors.
The Pittsburgh Pirates designated outfielder Edward Olivares for assignment on Thursday and selected right-hander Ben Heller's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. The club also placed reliever Colin Holderman (wrist) on the 15-day injured list with a right-wrist sprain. Olivares was optioned to Indy in July after hitting .224/.291/.333 with a weak .624 OPS, five home runs and 23 RBI in 55 games in his first year in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have decided to move on after the Venezuelan outfielder slashed .250/.318/.339 with a homer, five RBI and seven stolen bases in 15 games at Indy. Olivares is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed, at which point he'd be free to sign with any MLB team. Since debuting in the big leagues in 2020, he's hit .254/.306/.407 with 29 homers, 96 RBI and 16 steals in 285 games played for the Padres, Royals and Pirates.
Quinn Priester Activated, Edward Olivares Optioned To Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates activated right-hander Quinn Priester (lat) from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Edward Olivares to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. The team also outrighted left-hander Justin Bruihl to Indy after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Priester, who has been up and down for the Pirates as a starter in 2024, should make his first start off the IL this weekend in an excellent matchup against the Chicago White Sox. The 24-year-old went five innings in his final minor-league rehab start and currently carries a 4.83 ERA in 31 2/3 innings (six starts) in his second year in the majors. Olivares will get the boot back to the farm after Joshua Palacios has emerged as the team's regular in right field of late. Olivares is hitting just .224 (39-for-174) with five home runs and 23 RBI.
Edward Olivares Picks Up Three Hits, Two RBI On Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Edward Olivares turned in a big game in an 11-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Olivares went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI in the big win over Atlanta. The 28-year-old outfielder is now hitting .250 with five homers, 14 runs, and 16 RBI across 104 at-bats in 2024. He has been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting .348 with a homer and four RBI over his past seven games. Olivares is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues while he is on this hot streak.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Edward Olivares went yard twice in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers, belting his first home runs since Opening Day. Olivares first took Tigers right-hander Casey Mize deep to left center in the second inning to tie the game at one run apiece, later tagging lefty Tyler Holton for another big fly to deep left center during the sixth frame for what was thought to be an insurance run before closer David Bednar blew the save. The Pirates acquired the 28-year-old Venezuelan right fielder this past offseason as outfield depth and a bench bat against left-handed pitching, but he's pushing for more playing time courtesy of .321 batting average (9-for-28) and 1.046 OPS with three long balls, seven RBI, and seven runs scored over his first 12 games. Olivares is worth consideration for fantasy managers in NL-only or deep mixed leagues to see if he can carve out a more consistent role in Pittsburgh.
Outfielder Edward Olivares has been traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Olivares will be 28 in March and just received his first extended look in the majors this season. Over 107 games, he produced a 109 OPS+, indicating his offensive output was 9 percent better than the league average. The Pirates have two spots in the outfield taken by Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds but don't necessarily have a full-time starter for the last spot. Over a 162-game average, Olivares has 17 home runs and 11 stolen bases, hitting .261 with a 101 OPS+. That production should lead fantasy managers to draft him in deeper or NL-only leagues if he can win a starting spot out of Spring Training.
The Kansas City Royals reinstated outfielder Edward Olivares (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Olivares is back with the Royals for the first time since July 7 when he strained his left oblique. He's right back in the starting lineup on Tuesday against Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh in the lineup. The 27-year-old should see semi-regular playing time for the lowly Royals now that he's back between DH duties and left field. He's returning to a .242/.296/.410 slash line with six home runs, 12 doubles, four triples, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 67 games.
Kansas City Royals outfielder Edward Olivares (oblique) is likely to return from the 10-day injured list at some point this week. Olivares can come off the injured list as early as Tuesday after missing a good chunk of the season so far with a left-oblique strain. The 27-year-old Venezuelan will return to a .242/.296/.410 slash line with a career-high six home runs, 12 doubles, four triples, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 67 games over his 247 plate appearances. For a rebuilding Royals club, Olivares should see plenty of playing time, making him worth a pickup in AL-only leagues if he's available on the waiver wire.
The Kansas City Royals placed outfielder Edward Olivares (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Sunday (retroactive to July 8) with a mild left-oblique strain. In corresponding moves, the Royals also reinstated left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from the injured list, recalled infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor from Triple-A Omaha and designated left-hander Amir Garrett for assignment. With Olivares' injury being mild, there's a chance he'll be able to return early in the second half of the season when eligible on July 18. The 27-year-old finishes the first half of the 2023 season with a .242/.296/.410 slash line with six home runs, 12 doubles, four triples, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases and 30 runs scored in 67 games played.
Kansas City Royals outfielder Edward Olivares isn't in the lineup for Saturday's contest against Adrian Houser and the Milwaukee Brewers. The 27-year-old has given mixed results through 31 games, batting .239 with three homers but has added 17 runs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. Nate Eaton is taking his spot in the outfield and batting eighth. The second-year player has horrendous numbers over 17 games, slashing .029/.056/.029 with two steals and can be ignored in all leagues and formats right now, even as a streaming option.
Edward Olivares
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Mets
