Pittsburgh Pirates Free Agent Target: A Veteran Right-Handed Pitcher

Oct 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez (52) pitches during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez (52) pitches during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during game six of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the Pittsburgh Pirates look to improve their bullpen this offseason, veteran right-handed reliever Pedro Baez could be a fit in free agency

So far this offseason the biggest move the Pittsburgh Pirates have made came a week ago today on Christmas Eve. This move was trading former National League All-Star first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals. In return for Bell, the Pirates added 19-year-old pitching prospect Eddy Yean and 26-year-old starting pitcher Wil Crowe.

General manager Ben Cherington has yet to make any significant additions to their MLB roster this offseason. Crowe will likely be on the Opening Day roster, but there are still holes to be filled. One area the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to address this offseason is the bullpen. An available free agent who could help fill this hole is veteran right-handed reliever Pedro Baez.

For the past seven season Baez has been a key cog out of the bullpen for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baez has logged 356 innings in 355 games with the Dodgers. In these 356 innings of work Baez owns a 3.03 ERA and a 3.61 FIP.

Baez owns a 8.2% walk rate and a 25.3% strikeout rate in his MLB career. He’s limited opposing batters to a .203 batting average and he’s allowed home runs at just a 0.99 HR/9 clip in his 356 career innings pitched.

Last season Baez pitched in 17 innings for the Dodgers. He posted a 3.18 ERA and a 4.43 FIP. Baez walked 10.0% of batters faced, struck out 18.6% and allowed home runs at a 1.06 HR/9 rate.

Adding Baez could benefit the Pittsburgh Pirates in more ways than one. Not only can he improve the Pirate bullpen, he also could net a nice return on the trade market in July. Baez is a veteran reliever with plent yof MLB experience. He has also pitched in 29.1 innings in the postseason.

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In the postseason, Baez owns a 3.99 ERA and a 5.41 FIP. He’s walked 12.8% of batters faced in the postseason and struck out 26.4%. Teams in need of relief help would gladly move pieces for a reliever with Baez’s experience, both regular season and postseason.