Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Hector Noesi To A Minor League Contract

The Pittsburgh Pirates added to their bullpen depth for 2020 by signing a veteran reliever to a minor league contract on Tuesday evening

At the MLB Winter Meetings, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington made a minor signing on Tuesday. Cherington and the Pirates agreed to a minor league contract with relief pitcher Hector Noesi, adding the 32-year-old veteran to the bullpen mix for 2020.

Noesi first came to the Majors with the New York Yankees in 2011. He then pitched for the Seattle Mariners from 2012-2014. During the 2014 season, he also pitched for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He was also in the White Sox system in 2015.

After pitching for the Kai Tigers of the KBO from 2016-2018, Noesi returned to the States in 2019. His return came as a member of the Miami Marlins. With the Marlins, Noesi posted a 8.46 ERA, 6.39 FIP, 11.3% walk rate, and a 19.4% strikeout rate in 27 2/3 innings of work.

Noesi has pitched in 119 games in his career and made 57 starts. He has pitched 423 innings across these 119 games and owns a lifetime 5.51 ERA and a 5.09 FIP. Look for Noesi to primarily be a reliever for the Pirates, but one that could serve as a swing man or a spot starter.

Noesi possesses a four pitch mix with a sinking fastball, changeup, slider, and a curveball. The curve was his best pitch in 2019 generating a 44.7% whiff rate while limiting opposing batters to a .182 slugging percentage and a .136 wOBA in 2019. Each of his other three pitches allowed a slugging percentage of at least .474.

Noesi will likely enter Spring Training with an opportunity to win a spot in Derek Shelton’s bullpen. If he does not do so, odds are, he will then report to Triple-A Indianapolis and become a bullpen or starting pitching depth option for the Pirates as the season progresses.