Pirates Claim Akil Baddoo Off Waivers

Pittsburgh added the former Detroit Tigers outfielder after he spent the 2026 season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization without MLB play.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Akil Baddoo off waivers on roster cut day, November 2. Baddoo, 28, spent the first five seasons of his career with the Detroit Tigers.

Why it matters

All 30 MLB clubs had to trim rosters to 40 or add players to fill them on roster cut day, and the waiver claim adds a veteran outfield option to Pittsburgh's depth. Baddoo did not play in the majors in 2026, so the move brings back a player with recent minor league production.

Baddoo owns a career .224 average with 28 home runs and 104 RBI in 347 games for Detroit, with an 88 OPS+. His 2026 Triple-A line of .252 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI came in 66 games, though his MLB role in Pittsburgh remains unclear.

The players

Akil Baddoo

Akil Baddoo is a 28-year-old outfielder who spent five seasons with the Detroit Tigers before the Pirates claimed him.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Pittsburgh that claimed Baddoo off waivers.

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Detroit and the team Baddoo played for across his first five MLB seasons.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball franchise whose organization Baddoo played in during the 2026 season.

The details

Baddoo batted .137 over 73 at-bats in 2024 and .118 over 17 at-bats in 2025 with Detroit. He spent the 2026 season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization without appearing in the majors before Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers.

2024: Baddoo batted .137 in 73 at-bats with the Tigers.
2025: Baddoo batted .118 in 17 at-bats with the Tigers.
2026: Baddoo played the season in the Brewers organization without MLB action.
November 2, 2026: The Pirates claimed Baddoo off waivers on roster cut day.

Season Trajectory

Roster cut day forces every MLB club to finalize its 40-man roster, and waiver claims like Pittsburgh's for Baddoo are among the moves clubs make to address depth before the season. The claim shows how teams use waivers to add low-cost outfield depth rather than through trades.

Baddoo's addition gives Pittsburgh another outfielder with major league experience for depth decisions heading into spring. Fantasy managers tracking outfield depth charts will need to watch where he is assigned once the roster is finalized.

The takeaway

Roster cut day shows how quickly depth moves can reshape a team, and Baddoo's waiver claim is a reminder that minor league production can earn a second look. Readers following the Pirates should watch his first assignment for a clearer read on his role.