The Pirates have announced that RHP Chad Qualls was placed on the bereavement list and RHP Jared Hughes was recalled from AAA Indianapolis. While this is obviously sad news for Qualls, it is the best case scenario for the Pirates playoff push because injury or absence was the only way they could get Hughes back to the majors before the mandatory ten-day assignment period expired. I tweeted last night that I expected Qualls to be DFA'd today. That obviously didn't happen, but I'm guessing he's pitched his last inning with the team.

The Bucs also recalled utilityman Yamaico Navarro from Indy and optioned Jeff Locke back to AAA. This gets the roster back in balance, with 13 position players and 12 pitchers. Locke was the easiest one to move because he has options, so this is not a surprise. The silver lining is that he can get a start or two while in Indy and be recalled to use either as a starter or out of the pen around September 1 when rosters expand.