Pirates and Carson Fulmer agree to Minor League contract

The Pirates are OK with the right-hander Carson Fulmer on a minor league deal, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports (link X). The Icon Sports Management client will attend MLB camp as a non-roster invitee.

Pittsburgh’s interest in the 31-year-old Fulmer as a depth option dates back several years. They claimed the eighth overall pick off waivers twice during the 2020 season. Pittsburgh was never used in an MLB game and designated him for assignment early the following year. While Fulmer didn’t wear a Bucs uniform in the majors, he appeared on five teams over the course of an eight-season career. A good portion of that work came with the White Sox early in his career.

After bouncing around as a journeyman, Fulmer has found a home of sorts with the Angels. He signed a minor league deal with the Halos in 2023 and earned a spot on the big league roster late in the season. Although they waived him at the end of the season, they brought him back on another minor league contract and called him up within two weeks of the ’24 season.

Fulmer remained on the roster for the remainder of the season. He started eight of 37 appearances and logged a career-high 86 2/3 innings. The Vanderbilt product had a 4.15 ERA with a 21.4% strikeout rate, slightly below average. He issued walks at a slightly elevated rate of 10.6%. The Halos placed him on waivers at the end of the year, sending him back to minor league free agency. He will fight for a spot in Derek Shelton’s bullpen during Spring Training.