Pittsburgh Pirates: Two Buy-Low Bullpen Trade Targets

Brad Boxberger

Brad Boxberger is currently a late innings reliever for the Tampa Bay Rays.  He originally entered the league with the San Diego Padres when he was 24 years of age.  The righty was very good in San Diego, pitching to a 2.60 and a 2.86 earned run average over his first two seasons.  He also showed the ability to punch out batters averaging about 10 strikeouts per nine innings.  The Tampa Bay Rays noticed this and like the of bringing a young, controllable arm to their organization.  The Rays acquired the right-handed pitcher along with Logan Forsythe and two others in exchange for prospects at the time.

The Rays were excited about the potential of Boxberger and were looking at him as their future closing pitcher.  His first season with the Rays went really well.  Boxberger appeared in 63 games and posted a strong 2.37 earned run average along with a 0.83 WHIP.  The Rays were quite impressed and happy with their transaction.  They looked to have their future closer for many more years to come.

The following season the Rays were ready to hand the closing duties over to Boxberger. However, Boxberger did not adjust so well to closing.  Although he saved 41 games in 2015, he posted a career high 3.71 earned run average along with a 4.26 FIP.  He also blew six saves in 47 opportunities.  Boxberger however pitched so well in the first half of the season that the Rays stuck by him.  Entering 2016 the Rays traded Jake McGee.  McGee was the closer before Boxberger and then was the setup man after returning from injury. Many thought this would help Boxberger being that he did not have a proven closer behind him in the bullpen.

Well, this did not work out for the Rays.  In his first Spring Training game Boxberger tore a muscle in his thigh.  The now 28-year-old had to get surgery to repair the tear.  He ended up coming back on May 30.  His return did not last long.  Boxberger ended up straining his oblique in his first appearance back and went back on the disabled list.  In fact, this led to him having the worst year of his career thus far.  He finished the season appearing in just 27 games.  He also posted some pretty bad numbers.  His earned run average for the season was 4.81, with a 5.53 FIP, and a 1.72 WHIP.

All in all Boxberger had a pretty bad season.  However, this is the exact reason he could be and should be a target for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pittsburgh Pirates love bounce back candidates.  Boxberger represents one.  Even wit ha down season he still has a career earned run average of 3.17, a WHIP of 1.26, and an impressive strikeout per nine innings ratio of 11.5.  He also posted a 48% ground-ball percentage which is a low-key stat that the Pittsburgh Pirates look for in relievers.  He still has three years of control also which is something the Bucs always target.  This deal would be very similar to when the Pittsburgh Pirates picked up Mark Melancon.  Melancon was a proven reliever, coming off a down year, with plenty of contractual control.  That worked out, and Boxberger would be a very buy-low, high reward pick up.

Jake McGee

Mentioned on the last slide, Jake McGee would be another sensible target for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The former Ray pitcher really struggled in his with the Colorado Rockies this past season.  After posting a sub 2.5 earned run average four of the six years spent with Tampa Bay, McGee found himself traded last off-season.  McGee was dealt to the Rockies in a deal that saw the Rays acquire outfielder Corey Dickerson.  The move did not pay off the McGee as it typically does not for any pitcher going to Coor’s Field.  For the 2016 season the hard throwing left-handed closer found himself owning a 4.73 earned run average.  He only recorded 15 saves this past season and was eventually replaced by Adam Ottavino after blowing four saves in the early going.

The Pittsburgh Pirates could have interest in him because he is a proven reliever who struggles this past season.  Despite a poor 2016, McGee has had a strong career.  The now 30-year-old has posted a career earned run average of 3.07 in 305 innings pitched over his seven-year career.  What is even better is his FIP sits at 2.98 suggesting that he truly has had a strong career and that he posts the numbers he should.  Now McGee is not a big ground ball pitcher like the Bucs traditionally like, but he still has posted at least 40% in five of his seven seasons. What helps balance out his average ground-ball percentage is that on his career he has struck out 10.5 batters per nine innings pitched.  Obviously this is dynamic, especially coming from a left-handed pitcher.

McGee could make sense for the Bucs.  Once again they are in need of a late inning reliever.  McGee would come over with experience doing so.  Also the Rockies most likely would be willing to move him as he did not work out at Coor’s Field.  Also he only has one year of control left, which would make him a cheaper get.  With that, the Pittsburgh Pirates could use him as the 7th or 8th innings guy for one year.  We have seen the Bucs kind of plug-in different relievers each year into that role.  McGee represents a nice bounce back candidate, who would slide right into the Bucs bullpen.

Building the Bullpen Back Up

The Pittsburgh Pirates will no doubt be adding a few bullpen pieces this off-season.  Every year we see the Bucs make moves to enhance their options.  Typically this works out and is one of the stronger parts of the team.  This past season the bullpen was solid, but not as great as it has been.  With that we did not see them make a whole lot of change last off-season to it.  Yes they brought in Neftali Feliz, who filled in nicely, but other than that they struggled with their in-house options.

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The Bucs needs to make sure they have a strong bullpen this upcoming season.  With Gerrit Cole‘s injuries last season, and  Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl entering their first full seasons the Bucs will be strict with their innings.  The best way to preserve their starts is to trust the guys coming in after them.  Brad Boxberger and Jake McGee are both proven veterans who not only have experience but have produced really good results pitching late in games.

Both pitchers could help bridge the gap to Tony Watson in the ninth by being the 7th or 8th innings guys.  Also they both could be on the trade market this off-season as they are coming off the worst years of their careers.  Although both are different contractually, both would be good for the Bucs.  Boxberger comes with a few more years of control which is always a good thing to obtain in a trade.  Meanwhile, McGee would come with only one year which can be good as you do not have any long-term payroll commitments.

Will the Pittsburgh Pirates make deals for either one of these pitchers?  Most likely not.  First there is nothing saying they are available.  However, sometimes interested teams can make players available by showing interest.  Second, both teams would be selling low.  The Rays do not need to deal Boxberger right now if they do not get what they are looking for in a deal for him.  They could take this year and hope he bounces back then trade him.  McGee is more likely to a trade target as he fell out of favor with the Rockies last year. He is expendable with only one year of control.  Either way, expect the Bucs to be doing homework on the bullpen trade market.  If Neal Huntington makes a calls around the league looking for relief help, he needs to ask about these two arms.

Also, all stats courtesy of Baseball Reference

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