Eickhoff signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff joins Riley Smith as right-handed hurlers who signed minor-league pacts with the Guardians on Friday who were assigned to Triple-A Columbus. In 114.1 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis while a member of the PIttsburgh organization in 2022, Eickhoff registered a 4.93 ERA. It's likely Eickhoff will just be organizational fodder for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.

Eickhoff elected free agency Oct. 6.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff spent the entire 2022 campaign in the Pittsburgh organization, but he was up with the big club for just one spot start, when he was lit up for 10 earned runs on 10 hits and one walk in 4.1 innings in a June 22 loss to the Cubs. The 32-year-old performed better over a larger sample of 114.1 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis, pitching to a 4.96 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

The Pirates outrighted Eickhoff to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday after he cleared waivers.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff will remain in the organization as a swingman at Indianapolis after he was added to and removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster following one spot start with the big club. In his Pittsburgh debut last Wednesday against the Cubs, Eickhoff was tagged for 10 earned runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

Eickhoff was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff's contract was selected ahead of his season debut Wednesday, but he could hardly have done a worse job with his audition to stick around on a more permanent basis. In 4.1 innings against the Cubs, he allowed 10 runs on 10 hits. It's unlikely there will be much of a market for Eickhoff's services on the waiver wire considering that he's a 31-year-old who owns a 7.19 ERA since the start of the 2018 season. Austin Brice was called up to take his place on the roster.

Eickhoff (0-1) allowed 10 runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff had a disastrous first outing with the Pirates. In the second inning, he allowed the first five batters he faced to reach base, which resulted in seven runs. Prior to being recalled, Eickhoff posted a 4.84 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 48.1 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis. He should have the chance to stick in the rotation so long as Zach Thompson (forearm) is sidelined, though Eickhoff doesn't have a recent track record of success at the big-league level.

The Pirates selected Eickhoff's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Reliever Heath Hembree was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man and 26-man active roster for Eickhoff, who turned in a 4.84 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 48.1 innings in a swingman role for Indianapolis. Eickhoff's most recent big-league experience came last season, when he submitted an 8.69 ERA and 2.03 WHIP across 19.2 innings. Even while Eickhoff opposes a weak Cubs lineup Wednesday, fantasy managers will still want to tread carefully with the 32-year-old right-hander, who profiles as an NL-only or deeper mixed-league option.

Manager Derek Shelton said Eickhoff will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates will likely make the transaction official at some point after Tuesday's contest. Eickhoff will be joining the rotation as a replacement for Zach Thompson, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday with right forearm nerve inflammation. Over his 13 outings (six starts) with Indianapolis this season, Eickhoff has turned in a 4.84 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 48.1 innings.

The Pirates plan to call up Eickhoff from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff will join the Pirates after producing a 4.84 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 47 strikeouts over 48.1 innings while appearing in 13 games (six starts) for Indianapolis. He's expected to handle a hybrid role out of the Pirates' bullpen, but if he isn't needed in long relief during Tuesday's game against the Cubs, he could start Wednesday to fill the vacancy in the Pittsburgh rotation.

The Pirates reassigned Eickhoff to minor-league camp Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff missed out on a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day pitching staff, despite turning in a 2.45 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while striking out nine over 7.1 innings in four Grapefruit League appearances. He appeared exclusively in relief this spring, though he could vie for a spot in the rotation as he likely heads to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.

Eickhoff signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eickhoff was a perfectly competent starter in the first three years of his career, posting a 3.87 ERA over 65 starts from 2015 through 2017. He missed most of 2018 with injuries and hasn't pitched at anything close to that level since then, struggling to a 6.48 ERA across 83.1 innings over the last four seasons. If he spends a meaningful portion of the season in the Pirates' rotation it should be considered a pleasant surprise.