Pittsburgh Pirates: Projecting 2021 Starting Rotation After Trading Jameson Taillon

A group of four

This is where things really get murky. JT Brubaker? Wil Crowe? Miguel Yajure? Cody Ponce? Odds are, the final two spots in the starting rotation would be two of these four.

As we covered on the site over the weekend the 2021 season is an important one for Brubaker in deciding if his future with the Pittsburgh Pirates is as a starting pitcher or as a reliever. Following the Taillon trade Brubaker will almost certainly start the season in the Pirate rotation. At that point, the ball will be in his court in terms of what his long term future holds.

Crowe came to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this offseason in the Josh Bell trade. Entering last season Crowe was one of the top prosepcts in the National farm system, but he struggled in three MLB starts last season posting a 11.88 ERA and a 12.31 FIP.

That said, there is clearly something the Pirates like about Crowe. If this was not the case he would not have been involved in the Bell trade. Crowe does throw a good cruveball which is something pitching coach Oscar Marin always likes. As the roster currently stands, Crowe seems like a safe bet to be the team’s number five starting pitcher.

Yajure, like Crowe, was added via trade this offseason. While his three MLB outings with the Yankees came as a reliever, he was a starting pitcher throughout the minor leagues. Cherington has also said that Yajure will entering Spring Training with a chance to make the Opening Day roster.

As for Ponce, he seems like the least likely of the four to start the year in the rotation. While Ponce posted a solid 3.18 ERA in 2020, his 2.65 HR/9, 6.66 FIP, 7.08 DRA, and 18.2% strikeout rate did not incite as much confidence. Most likely, Ponce will start the 2021 season in the starting rotation at Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates could also add rotation help between now and the start of the season. To be honest, it would be a bit of a surprise if they did not add a veteran starting pitcher, if nothing else, for depth. With an injury or two the Pirates could be forced to throw someone such as Cody Bolton into their MLB starting rotation before they are ready.