Nick Solak elects free agency from Padres

Solak, 31, tested free agency after refusing his outright assignment to Triple-A El Paso, but the 31-year-old will remain with the San Diego system and report back to the Chihuahuas.

Solak was designated for assignment on Sunday and passed through waivers unclaimed. As of now, it appears as though the veteran utilityman will accept the assignment and continue to serve as extra depth for the Padres at the Triple-A level.

Solak has been removed from San Diego’s roster with Miguel Andujar coming off the injured list. The well-traveled 31-year-old went 1-for-7 with one RBI during a four-game stint with the Padres. He’ll likely pass through waivers unclaimed and stick around as emergency depth.

The textbook definition of a modern-era journeyman, Solak gets the call to join San Diego’s bench mix with Miguel Andjuar hitting the injured list with a hamstring strain. The 31-year-old offers plenty of defensive versatility, but he’s appeared in just 41 games between three different organizations at the big-league level since 2022.

There’s nothing unexpected here, but Schnell did make a sneaky run at the bench spot that’s probably going to Bryce Johnson. McKenzie was a mess in camp, but he was a mess throwing about three mph harder than he did in his one really good year with Cleveland. If he finds some command in the minors, he might prove helpful at some point.

One of the highest profile minor league free agents this offseason, Solak winds up in San Diego where he represents a break glass in case of emergency bench option. The versatile 30-year-old got into four games for the Pirates last season, going 1-for-11 at the dish, after tearing the cover off the ball at the Triple-A level with a robust .332/.411/.492 slash line with 14 homers and 10 steals in 482 plate appearances across 111 games. The former top prospect will compete for a bench role in spring training but appears ticketed for Triple-A El Paso at the end of camp.

Solak returns to Pittsburgh’s organization after a quick stint with the club back in late May where he went 1-for-11 across four games. The 30-year-old will remain stationed at Triple-A Indianapolis to wait for another chance in the big leagues.

Solak will search for a new opportunity on the open market instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. The versatile 30-year-old former second-round pick has achieved journeyman status in recent years. His stint with the Pirates lasted just four games where he went 1-for-11 at the plate.

The Pirates waived Solak after Sunday’s game without reporting it. The journeyman started three out of his first four games with the club after being promoted on May 16, but he went just 1-for-10 and had seen the field only once in two weeks since.

The versatile 30-year-old was absolutely crushing it at Triple-A Indianapolis, slashing .393/.452/.625 with six homers, 19 RBI and four stolen bases in his first 126 plate appearances. With production like that, it’s no surprise that the Bucs would want to give him an opportunity. Ji Hwan Bae was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.