Pittsburgh Pirates: Left Feels Right With Free Agent Pitching Targets

Brett Anderson

Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2006, Brett Anderson is an 11+ year MLB veteran with stops in Oakland, LA, Toronto, and NL Central rivals Chicago and Milwaukee. He managed only 47.0 innings of 4.21 ERA, 6.13 K/9, and 4.38 FIP ball during an injury-plagued 2020 season which ultimately resulted in his exclusion from the Wild Card roster. However, Anderson had shown prior flashes of brilliance, including a 31 start 2019 where he posted a rock-solid 3.89 ERA over 176 innings. Overall, he sports a lifetime 4.06 ERA, 6.15 K/9, and an encouraging 3.93 FIP.

Anderson was signed to a 1yr/$5M deal for the Brew Crew and failed to live up to the hype as a result of a recurring blister on his pitching hand. Coupled with his soon-to-be age 33 season, a shortened, if average 2020 probably leaves him open to a discounted one year contract.

If he can stay healthy, his brief familiarity with Pittsburgh’s division, penchant for limiting HR/9, and veteran status could make him a valuable piece of the rotation. Plug him in at the top half and profit at the trade deadline.

After spending nearly four years in the hitter’s haven that is Coors Field, Tyler Anderson was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants in 2019 and brought back for 1yr/$1.775M in 2020.

Anderson worked mostly as a starter to the tune of a 4.37 ERA, 6.18 K/9, and 4.36 FIP. Historically an 8.00+ K/9 pitcher, Anderson threw only 59.2 innings in a season that saw a significant decline in his fastball velocity (-1.1 MPH from 2019) and subsequent strikeout rate (-3.84 K/9 from 2019). To bo honest, it was a surprise that the Giants non-tendered Anderson.

Despite the disturbing trends mentioned above, Anderson has some solid baseball in his rearview mirror and hopefully more in the future. For example, from 2016-2018, he threw 376 innings of 4.31 ERA ball in a hitter-friendly park while striking out 8.00+ batters per nine innings.

Anderson was non-tendered by the Giants, so the Pirates could potentially sign Anderson to a reasonable, incentive-laden, single year deal to strengthen the rotation with a former first round pick. Anderson could use 2021 to rebuild some of his capital in a pitcher-friendly ballpark without a DH looming in each opposing lineup.

Like his fellow southpaw, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez is an 11+ year veteran who toed the rubber in Oakland before landing with the Nationals from 2012-2018. He would split 2018-2019 between the Brewers and Nationals before signing with the Pale Hose in 2020 for 1yr/$5M with a previously undisclosed team option for 2021.

After tossing a disappointing 31.2 innings of 4.83 ERA ball with an even bleaker 5.50 FIP, the Sox declined his option. However, over his career, Gonzalez has posted a generally solid 3.70 ERA, 8.66 K/9, and 3.68 FIP. More impressively, he has reached the 30 start plateau eight times during his decade-plus in the bigs.

Gonzalez was slated to make $7M in his 2021 club option, but the Pirates could surely lure the former Washington stalwart back to the National League for less. Potentially more attractive to Gonzalez will be the opportunity to immediately work out of the rotation after making only four starts in 12 appearances on the South Side. A solid start to the 2021 season could see the hurler become an attractive midyear trade chip with the potential to move to a World Series contender.

Mike Montgomery

Measuring in at 6’5″ and 215 pounds, Mike Montgomery cuts an imposing figure on the mound. A journeyman already, he spent 2015 in Seattle before two stints each with the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs, winning a World Series with the latter.

A lifetime 3.84 ERA pitcher, Montgomery managed only 5.1 innings in 2020 after spending the majority of the season on the injured list with a lat strain. Prior to that, he hurled 91 innings of sub-5.00 ERA, 6.82 K/9, and 5.52 FIP ball in 2019. Montgomery has spent parts of his five year career as a starter, reliever, and swingman so he has the ability to fill multiple roles on a fluid Pirate roster.

Montgomery finds himself currently unsigned after electing free agency in lieu of an outright assignment from Kansas City. Adding the lofty lefty to the Pittsburgh Pirates would give some of the younger arms time to develop while offering insurance as an innings eater were a starter to get yanked early. The once-lauded prospect commanded only a 1yr/$3.1M contract with the Royals in 2020, and like other pitchers on this list, may be interested in short deal to rebuild value. All of these factors make Montgomery an excellent target to bolster the 2021 Pirate rotation.

The Verdict

Per Stephen Nesbitt of The Athletic, it’s a matter of when, not if, Chad Kuhl will be traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With Steven Brault’s breakout 2020 also drawing interest, the Buccos are sure to be down an arm or two by the time catchers report to Bradenton. The team would do well to sign a free agent starter(s), and with Brault possibly on the way out, another lefty would add balance to a righty-laden squad.