PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates effectively parted ways with Jeff Locke on Tuesday night, but they still have a handful of roster decisions to make this week.
The deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players for the 2017 season is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday night, and Locke was the Pirates' most obvious non-tender candidate. The 29-year-old lefty pitched his way out of Pittsburgh's rotation last season, posting a 5.44 ERA in 127 1/3 innings, and he would have been in line to make $4.2 million in arbitration next year, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
The Pirates have other options in their rotation and bullpen, so they designated Locke for assignment to make room for the signing of right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla.