The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed outfielder Nate McLouth on waivers, according to Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If McLouth clears waivers, he will be granted his unconditional release, making him a free agent.
The #Pirates have placed Nate McLouth on waivers. Should he clear, he will be granted an unconditional release. Will be free agent.
— Michael Sanserino (@msanserino) May 31, 2012
McLouth rejoined the Pirates this offseason, signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal. While Pittsburgh hoped McLouth would return to prominence with the Pirates, things didn’t go as planned.
Over his 34 games and 74 at-bats with the Pirates this season, McLouth only mustered an OPS of .385 with two extra base hits and RBIs.
McLouth was drafted by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 2000 draft and went on to make his major league debut with the club in 2005. After budding into a solid regular with the Pirates in 2007, McLouth was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Gorkys Hernandez, Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton.
McLouth struggled in Atlanta, posting a line of .229/.335/.364 over parts of three seasons with the Braves. The 30-year-old fared better overall with the Pirates, as he managed an OPS of .785 over his six seasons in Pittsburgh.