The Pirates have announced that they've selected John Holdzkom's contract, designated Chris McGuiness for assignment, promoted Gerrit Cole and Tony Sanchez, and reinstated Stolmy Pimentel from the disabled list. (They optioned Holdzkom to Indianapolis, so he isn't joining the team right away -- sorry for any confusion from the headline.)
The Cole/Sanchez/Pimentel additions are expected and routine (and the Cole promotion is just a paper move anyway). The Holdzkom news is interesting, though. The Pirates acquired him out of independent ball this year (he pitched for two indy teams, the Amarillo Sox and the San Angelo Colts, neither of which I've even heard of), then sent him to Altoona. He was terrific in a few outings there, and then he headed to Indianapolis, where he was great again. Oh, and he's a legit 6-foot-7, and he throws very hard. Maybe nothing will come of Holdzkom, but it wouldn't be a shock at this point if he turned out to be a really good reliever, and it will be a nice scouting/coaching triumph if he does.
As for McGuiness (above), the Pirates are overflowing with lefty corner players, and McGuiness did little to distinguish himself since arriving from the Rangers in a trade last offseason.