Pirates complete three-team trade to strengthen roster; infielder Jung Jong-chol designated for assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates finalized a three-team trade with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, adding second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery to their roster. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated infielder Jung Jong-chol for assignment, removing him immediately from the 40-man roster.

Jung Jong-chol made his major league debut this year but went hitless in 7 at-bats over 3 games in early April, striking out 3 times without drawing any walks and recording one caught stealing before being sent down to Triple-A. This season in Triple-A, he has appeared in 107 games with 397 plate appearances, posting a slash line of .209/.307/.271 and an overall OPS of just 0.578.

Although Jung Jong-chol still has one minor league option remaining that allows movement between the majors and minors, the Pirates had to designate him for assignment due to roster adjustments. Within the next 7 days, the Pirates must decide his fate: if no trade is made, he may be outrighted to the minors. Since he has only 10 days of major league service and this is his first DFA, he cannot reject the outright assignment.

In this trade, the Pirates sent right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows away in exchange for Lowe, Mangum, and Montgomery. With the 40-man roster full, the Pirates needed to clear two spots, designating both Jung Jong-chol and outfielder Marco Luciano for assignment.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Jung Jong-chol possesses excellent athleticism and versatility across multiple positions, but his offensive performance has remained below average since his promotion to Double-A in 2023. He still has one option year left, and the Pirates will finalize their decision within five days. Historically, Asian shortstops with defensive skills attract team interest, but to secure consistent playing time, they need to improve offensively. At 24 years old, Jung Jong-chol still has potential for development, and whether other teams will pick him up or he will continue honing his skills in the Pirates’ minor league system remains to be seen.