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An Early Look Into The Pirates Starting Pitching Options This Winter
By Josh Mavilla
Michael Wacha
This could be a very realistic option for the Pirates to explore. In 7 years with St. Louis, Michael Wacha has posted a 3.95 ERA. He has given up his share of walks in the past couple years, but he also has a career 7.9 SO/9 ratio, which isn’t terrible. He has also been susceptible to the long ball over the course of his tenure with the Red Birds.
He could provide value to the Pirates rotation at a low rate. This season, Wacha made just over $6 million. Due to his rich injury history, his AAV could take a hit going into free agency this winter. AKA, he is affordable for the Pirates.
He will be 28 next season, so he still has tread on his tires. I could envision a multi-year deal for Wacha at the right price. In 2016, the Pirates inked Ivan Nova to a 3-year, $26 million deal that included $2 million in performance bonuses per year. This is the richest deal the Pirates have struck for a starting pitcher. A deal for Wacha could resemble Nova’s contract extension. With the Bucs struggles with starting pitching, this could be a move that benefits them for the next couple seasons.