With the Pittsburgh Pirates on a seven-game losing streak and major-league rosters being reduced from 30 players to 28 by noon Thursday, manager Derek Shelton announced two moves that should send a message.

The Pirates optioned veterans Jose Osuna and Guillermo Heredia to their satellite camp at Altoona, choosing to keep extra pitchers for bullpen depth.

Osuna, 27, was slashing .158/.238/.316 with a home run and four RBIs in six games this season. He started two games at designated hitter, two in right field and one at first base but failed to establish himself as the power-hitting presence the lineup needed, a year after leading the majors with five pinch-hit home runs, and was bypassed by Phillip Evans.

Heredia, 29, was signed in the offseason to be the fourth outfielder after he spent three seasons with Seattle and last year in Tampa Bay. Heredia was 3 for 16 (.188) and started three games in right and two in center, where shortstop Cole Tucker started against the Minnesota Twins.

Earlier Wednesday, the Pirates placed right-handed reliever Nick Burdi on the 45-day injured list and activated utility man JT Riddle, who can play in the infield or outfield.

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