Pirates Trade Rumors: Joaquin Benoit Doesn’t Fit

Jul 9, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joaquin Benoit (56) during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates trade rumors Joaquin Benoit doesn’t fit for a number of reasons.  Benoit is 36 years old.  Benoit is currently pitching for the San Diego Padres and we all know that is a benefit.  The 6’3″ 220 pounder is indeed taking advantage of the friendly pitching confines of his home ballpark when you look at his splits. Benoit has allowed no homers at home, but three while pitching on the road.  Those home runs are what the Bucs bullpen can do without and when considering the age and contract, the Pirates should pass on Benoit.   

Perhaps, Neal Huntington is working on a fleecing of the Padres who are without a General Manager after Josh Byrnes was told to hit the road last month.  There will be other suitors and Jim Bowden wrote last week that the Tigers were interested in plucking him from the Friars.  It might make some sense.  In 2011 through 2013 the right-hander was solid as a reliever for the Detroit Tigers.

Jim Bowden thought the Tigers could send right-handed prospect Drew VerHagen, who has a 3.67 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 19 starts with Triple-A Toledo, should be enough.

"“Drew VerHagen is a firm but fair price for Benoit,” Bowden writes."

While pitching for San Diego this season he has a 1.86 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 38²⁄₃ innings.  Benoit’s velocity graph is here from Fangraphs.  Also from Fangraphs here is Benoits heat map:

Fangraphs Benoit Heatmap

Another challenge when looking at Benoit is he would cost Bob Nutting $8 million in 2015.  Then when he would be, 38 years old a $1.5 million buyout or the $8 million team and vesting option in 2016.

It’s too rich for the Pirates blood even if the GM-less Padres pay some of the freight.  The Pirates need bullpen help, but Benoit doesn’t make sense in my eyes.  Benoit has also played for the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays.

Follow all the Pirates trade rumors that are flying around the Federal Street offices in Pittsburgh.