Pirates DFA Canaan Smith-Njigba, 2 others to make Opening Day roster room for pitchers

In the span of a year, Canaan Smith-Njigba went from starting in right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Cincinnati to being designated for assignment to make room on the active roster.

Smith-Njigba was one of three casualties to clear 40-man roster space before Thursday’s season opener at the Miami Marlins so the Pirates could select the contracts of right-handed pitchers Jared Jones, Ryder Ryan and Hunter Stratton to add them to 26-man active roster.

Smith-Njigba, an outfielder acquired from the New York Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade; catcher Ali Sanchez; and left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf were victims of the roster crunch.

Smith-Njigba was designated for assignment by the Pirates in January when they signed reliever Aroldis Chapman, then claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in February. Sanchez, who signed a $1 million contract in December, lost the battle for a backup job to Henry Davis and Jason Delay. The 6-foot-7 Wolf, ranked the Pirates’ No. 20 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was acquired from San Diego last August in the trade that sent Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to the Padres.

The Pirates also placed four players on the injured list: Catcher Yasmani Grandal (left foot plantar fasciitis) and infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae (strain of left hip muscle) were placed on the 10-day IL, and righty relievers Colin Holderman (illness) and Carmen Mlodzinski (right elbow inflammation) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to March 25.

Right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras, who made the Opening Day roster, was placed on the MLB paternity leave list. Contreras was replaced on the active roster by lefty Jose Hernandez, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates’ Opening Day roster:

Pitchers (13): David Bednar, Ryan Borucki (L), Aroldis Chapman (L), Roansy Contreras*, Bailey Falter (L), Josh Fleming (L), Marco Gonzales (L), Jose Hernandez (L), Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Luis Ortiz, Martín Pérez (L), Ryder Ryan, Hunter Stratton.

Position players (13): Oneil Cruz (INF), Henry Davis (C), Jason Delay (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (INF), Connor Joe (INF/OF), Andrew McCutchen (DH/OF), Edward Olivares (OF), Bryan Reynolds (OF), Jack Suwinski (OF), Michael A. Taylor (OF), Rowdy Tellez (INF), Jared Triolo (INF), Alika Williams (INF).

*Denotes was on the Opening Day roster but placed on MLB paternity leave list and replaced by Jose Hernandez.