The Pirates plan to stretch Ferguson out in spring training to see if he is an option to join the starting rotations. Ferguson has made 14 starts in his big league career, most as an opener.
Cartaya played 93 games at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season. The 23-year-old Venezuelan had 66 home runs and 235 RBIs in 363 minor league games for the Dodgers.
Estrada has a .251 average with 48 homers, 195 RBIs and 52 stolen bases in 469 games over parts of six seasons with the Yankees (2019-20) and the Giants (2021-24).
Hill was an offensive assistant and quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks this season, and his hiring was announced three days after Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired.
Back in the 1920s, the Fighting Irish made what might have been their biggest push to join what would become the Big Ten but the athletic director at Michigan blocked it. Ever since, Notre Dame has been an independent.