The Pittsburgh Pirates moved to enhance their roster by signing left-handed reliever Tim Mayza, subsequently designating infielder Alika Williams for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster. Williams' performance in the majors last season was disappointing, with a .207 batting average and only five RBIs across 96 plate appearances. His defensive metrics also fell short, recording -1 Defensive Runs Saved. The former No. 37 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays, Williams joined the Pirates in June 2023 in a trade that sent pitcher Robert Stephenson to Tampa. If no team claims him in the next week, he will likely be sent to the minors.

Mayza’s addition marks the Pirates’ second significant bullpen move of the offseason, following the signing of Caleb Ferguson. Mayza's recent season saw him post a 6.33 ERA over 50 appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The Pirates aim to bolster their pitching staff, but have made some tough decisions regarding player assignments.