Right-handed pitcher Henderson Alvarez won't be coming to the Pirates after all.
Late Sunday night, the 30-year-old announced on Twitter that his contract with the Pirates "did not materialize," and that he was returning to the independent league team he had been pitching with, the Milwaukee Milkmen.
Good night, I want you to know that the signing with the pirates did not materialize, I return to the independent league again, reasons why they signed another player, I'm still looking for a new opportunity and we're still here working hard @MKEMilkmen Good Return pic.twitter.com/0YxwklDXb8
— Henderson Alvarez (@HendersonA37) August 17, 2020
Alvarez said the reason the deal didn't happen was because the Pirates signed another player. On Monday morning, news broke that the Pirates had signed right-handed pitcher Jandel Gustave, pending a physical.
The Pirates currently have 26 players working out in their alternate training camp in Altoona, Pa., not counting Gustave. Between them and the 28 active players on the major-league roster, they should have had room in their 60-player pool to add Alvarez.
Alvarez has generated some buzz since joining the Milkmen this year, reaching 98 mph with his fastball. That is significantly harder than what he threw with the Marlins, even at his best.
Alvarez was once a promising young pitcher for the Marlins, throwing a no-hitter in 2013 and earning an All-Star nod in 2014. However, shoulder injuries have limited him to just seven major-league appearances since 2014, and none since 2017. He pitched for the Nationals' class AAA affiliate and in the AAA Mexican League in 2019.
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