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Pittsburgh Pirates: Six Potential Joe Musgrove Trade Partners

By Noah Wright

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 20: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 20: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 13: Martin Maldonado #15, Alex Bregman #2 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros look on from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Three of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 13, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 13: Martin Maldonado #15, Alex Bregman #2 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros look on from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game Three of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 13, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Houston Astros

The team Musgrove first reached the Majors with could once again be interested in the right hander. The ‘Stros faced many issues, both on and off the field, and were impeided by many injuries that threw their season into the trash. Now, they may be interested in getting a former pitcher of theirs back from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

They’re going to be without Justin Verlander for most, if not all of 2021 as he had to undergo Tommy John surgery early this year. He pitched just 6 innings in 2020 before having to go under the knife.

Zack Greinke put up pretty good results, but not the ace level numbers you’d expect from a pitcher of his caliber with a 4.03 ERA, 2.80 FIP and 1.13 WHIP. Framber Valdez was their ace this year as he put up a 3.57 ERA, 2.85 FIP and 1.11 WHIP in 70.2 innings. Lance McCullers Jr. made a nice return from his own Tommy John procedure as he had a 3.93 ERA, 3.70 FIP and 1.16 in 55 innings.

That trio will return to the rotation for the Astros in 2021, but the rest of the starting staff leaves some to be desired. Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy put up solid ERAs and WHIPs, but both of their FIPs and xFIPs were approaching 5, with Urquidy having a 5.36 xFIP. They could also turn to top prospect Forest Whitley, but after surrendering 9 long balls in 24.1 innings at Triple-A in 2019, the Astros might not want to rush him to the majors just yet.

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