With IKF in Toronto, Bucs' infield picture shifts younger

BOSTON -- Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and left-handed reliever Tim Mayza were claimed off waivers Sunday, the final day teams can add players to their roster and still be playoff-eligible.

Kiner-Falefa was claimed by the Blue Jays, the team announced, and Mayza by the Phillies. The Pirates’ 40-man roster now sits at 37 players after Andrew Heaney cleared waivers Saturday and was declared a free agent.

Kiner-Falefa was the team’s primary shortstop for most of the year, but mostly slid over to third base after the Pirates dealt Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Reds at the Trade Deadline. He slashed .264/.300/.332 with a .632 OPS with one home run and 35 RBIs over 428 plate appearances.

“We're going to miss him,” manager Don Kelly said. “From when he got traded over, the professionalism, the way that he carried himself. … He was a pro every day. He made other people around him better and was as consistent as you can be as a teammate, as a player. Offensively, defensively, you knew what you were going to get every single day.

“It's not a surprise that a team like Toronto that already had him, that knows what he brings, that's going to the playoffs, would be the team that claimed him. He's a true pro."

Kiner-Falefa was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, so the main appeal for the Pirates is that this opens up a roster spot and reps for another player with team control. That includes someone like Cam Devanney, who made his Major League debut Sunday at Fenway Park in the Pirates’ 5-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Devanney, a New Hampshire native who got to debut against his childhood team, has hit 20 home runs this year between the Royals and Pirates’ Triple-A affiliates. He flashed some leather in the sixth inning by robbing Alex Bregman of a potential single and drew a walk in an 0-for-3 afternoon.

“Just so special,” Devanney said about debuting. “I don’t really have the words to describe how cool it is to make my debut here and have all my family and friends in the stands. There are just no words. It was awesome.”

Devanney is just one of several options the Pirates have for the left side of their infield. Jared Triolo has swung a very good bat this August and is a Gold Glove defender who can play either shortstop or third base. Liover Peguero is in his final year in which he can be optioned to the Minors, so this could be an opportunity for him to show he can contribute. Ryan Kreidler was recalled before Sunday’s game, and Kelly cited that he can play third.

“Being able to mix and match, it will be fluid,” Kelly said. “Guys will get opportunities to play and show what they can do and have good at-bats. These guys, they play solid defense."

There are other players on the 40-man with Triple-A Indianapolis still, like Nick Yorke and Billy Cook, who could also potentially fit this bill and could cameo before the season is through, especially since Major League rosters expand to 28 players starting Monday.

Mayza signed a one-year deal this winter and has been on the injured list since April. He allowed three earned runs with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings. Lefty reliever work has been a revolving door for most of this year, with Evan Sisk being the only active southpaw in the bullpen.

The real focus throughout this second half of the season is to try to build a contender for 2026. Perhaps someone could emerge in this final month and make a good impression. Either way, that left side of the infield is going to need a major offensive boost next year if the Pirates want to compete. With Kiner-Falefa and Hayes now gone, the doors are pretty wide open.