LHP Chasen Shreve elects free agency as Pirates reduce roster, outright 6 to Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates removed seven players from their 40-man roster Saturday, as six were outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday while another, left-handed reliever Chasen Shreve, elected free agency.

Infielder/outfielder Wilmer Difo and right-handed pitchers Chase De Jong, Enyel De Los Santos, Kyle Keller, Connor Overton and Shea Spitzbarth were outrighted to Indianapolis.

The Pirates also reinstated six pitchers — left-handers Steven Brault and Dillon Peters and right-handers Blake Cederlind, Jose Soriano, Duane Underwood Jr. and Bryse Wilson — to the 40-man roster from the 60-day injured list. The moves reduces the roster to 40 players.

Difo signed a minor league deal but proved to be a reliable pinch hitter, batting .286 (16 for 56) with a double, two triples, three home runs and 12 RBIs. He slashed .269/.329/.384 with seven doubles, three triples, four home runs and 24 RBIs in 111 games. Difo was versatile, playing second base, shortstop, third base, center field and right field, and even pitching two innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits against the Atlanta Braves.

Shreve, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million in February, became a valuable left-handed option out of the bullpen, going 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 57 appearances.

De Jong went 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA in nine starts before undergoing season-ending surgery and finishing on the 60-day injured list.

De Los Santos, claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-September, was 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in seven games.

Keller, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations in April, was 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 32 games.

Overton was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in September, and was 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in five appearances, including three bullpen starts.

Spitzbarth, selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, had a 3.60 ERA in five appearances.