Pittsburgh Pirates: Opening Day Bullpen Options

The Pittsburgh Pirates had an extremely strong bullpen in 2013-2015. It was so good it gained the nickname “The Sharktank”. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now attempting to build another “Sharktank” bullpen as they have a ton of young and upcoming arms, many of which we could see next year. But, for now, what could the Pirate bullpen look like on Opening Day 2021?

The Closing Situation

Right now, the 9th inning is likely Richard Rodriguez’s. Rodriguez took over the closer role last season as the Pittsburgh Pirates lost their regular closer, Keone Kela, to COVID-19 and other injuries throughout the season. Rodriguez pitched well out of the bullpen putting up a 2.70 ERA, 2.85 FIP and a 0.85 WHIP. To go with that, he had a career high strikeout (36.6%) and walk rate (5.4%). He also had a 2.40 SIERA and 2.83 xFIP. While he may be a trade piece, the Pirates will likely hold onto him until the trade deadline and hope he can prove himself in higher leverage situations to help increase his value.

If Rodriguez loses the closing job, they could go for a closer by committee role. Nick Mears and Blake Cederlind are two, young flamethrowing right-handers that could potentially be long-term answers in the back end of the ‘pen. Another young right-hander looking to prove himself in the Majors is Pittsburgh area native David Bednar, who was one of the pieces the Pittsburgh Pirates received in the Joe Musgrove trade.

All three were listed as top 30 organizational prospects on FanGraphs at the end of 2020.

Other High Leverage Options

While Rodirguez may have the closing job to start the season, the set-up role could be another role that’s put in place by playing who’s hot. The aforementioned Mears, Cederlind and Bednar are all potential late inning arms looking to prove they can handle higher leverage situations and lock down the closer role in the near future. However, they may not be the only ones looking to get more high leverage situations.

Chris Stratton is another potential player who could become a trade piece for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stratton put on a solid showing last year putting up a 3.90 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 1.30 WHIP in 30 innings of work.

Stratton, who ranked in the top 98th percentile of fastball spin rate and top 97th percentile of curveball spin rate, had a 3.50 xFIP and SIERA and 3.42 DRA. Plus he had a career best strikeout rate (29.8%) while only allowing home runs at a .9 per 9 rate. Like Rodriguez, if Stratton can prove himself in late inning, higher leverage moments, he could become another potential trade chip for the Pirates.

Rule 5 Draft acquisition Luis Oviedo may also get a chance in higher leverage roles. Oviedo was traded from the New York Mets after being selected out of the Rule 5 Draft, to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Oviedo, a former Cleveland Indians prospect, has a fastball that would play up out of the pen. According to FanGraphs, it averages out in the 90-94 MPH range and tops out at 97 MPH, but could tick up 2-3 MPH since he will be used as a reliever rather than a starter. He also has a slider, curveball and change up, but none of his four pitches are seen as worse than 50-grade offerings (50 is average).

Looking For A Breakout Season

So far, Geoff Hartlieb has shown a ton of potential at the Major LEague level, but has yet to put things together. 2021 will be the right-hander’s age-27 season. Hartlieb excelled throughout the minor leagues having a 2.87 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 2.92 FIP throughout 188 innings. Throughout this time, he improved his strikeout rate, gave up fewer home runs every season while showing decent command. While Hartlieb had a solid 30.7% strikeout rate in 2019, he also gave up home runs at an insane rate. Last season, the home runs were way down, right around to his minor league rate, but he walked the same amount of batters he struck out, 19 in 22.1 innings.

Hartlieb does have the potential to be a great reliever. He has a darting sinker that averages out in the mid-90s and a wipeout slider. His sinker was also one of the most valuable sinkers in baseball as he ranked 21st among the 164 qualified players in run value with the pitch. He registered a strong -5 mark and -1.8 per 100 pitches mark. He’s just yet to harness the potential and turn it into results on the field, but he’s not too old and will be given a decent look in 2021.

Another arm that may be looking for a breakout is Tyler Bashlor. The hard throwing right-hander hasn’t really gotten a chance to prove himself in the majors yet having pitched just 62.1 innings across three seasons. However, he ranked in the top 85th percentile of fastball velo and top 97th percentile of fastball spin rate.

Left-hander Austin Davis was another with well above average spin rate on his pitches. His four seamer ranked in the top 85th percentile of spin while his curve was in the top 64th percentile. Seeing as the Pittsburgh Pirates don’t have very many left-handed bullpen options, he could be in the running for a roster spot.

Bounceback Candidates

Whether that be from underperformance or injury, the Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of pitchers returning that are looking to rebound from rough years in 2020. One of the many is Michael Feliz. Feliz had showed a lot of improvement in the second half of 2019, but pitched just 1.2 innings.

Clay Holmes put up some pretty bad surface numbers in 2019, but aside from a very poor fastball, had a great pitch repertoire. He, like Feliz, pitched very little in 2020 as an injury kept him out nearly the entire season. The former prospect ended up pitching just 1.1 innings.

One of the two pieces the Pirates got back in the Andrew McCutchen trade is also looking to prove he belongs in the Bucs’ bullpen. Kyle Crick had an outstanding 2018 and while there were signs of regression, his overall production has taken a massive nose dive. Crick struggled in 2019 and then in 2020, he lost over 4 MPH off his four seam fastball. Overall, he pitched just 5.2 innings in 2020 and time may be running out for the right-hander to prove himself.

Another major part of the Pirate bullpen in 2018 was Edgar Santana. Santana looked like he could be a long term back of the pen guy, but then missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. Slated to return in 2020, Santana looked great in Spring Training before being handed a PED suspension. Now two whole years removed from pitching in a MLB game, Santana is looking to reclaim a late inning role in 2021.

Fringe Arms

Recently, the Pittsburgh Pirates brought in left-hander Chasen Shreve on a minor league deal. Shreve did pretty solid in 2020 and one of the highest run value per 100 pitches marks in all of baseball on his four seam fastball at -1.8. Plus with a high strikeout rate, Shreve likely has an inside track for one of the last bullpen spots.

One name that could be worth watching if he makes the roster is Carson Fulmer. Fulmer was once considered a premier prospect in all of baseball. MLB Pipeline even ranked him as high as the 38th best prospect in all of baseball in 2016. While his star has diminished since then, he still has some of the highest spin rates in baseball. His fastball sat in the top 91st percentile and curveball sat in the top 88th percentile of spin. However, he has been designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates once already, but he’s also been claimed by them twice so they have some interest in having him on the roster.