Pittsburgh Pirates: Notable MiLB Free Agent Signing Performances

VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Todd Frazier #99 of the Pittsburgh Pirates stands at the plate during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during a spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 09, 2021 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Todd Frazier #99 of the Pittsburgh Pirates stands at the plate during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during a spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 09, 2021 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Mar 1, 2021; Sarasota, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Chasen Shreve (55) poses during media day at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports
Mar 1, 2021; Sarasota, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Chasen Shreve (55) poses during media day at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: MLB Photos via USA Today Sports /

Pitcher Chasen Shreve

The Pittsburgh Pirates brought in Chase Shreve as a potential lefty bullpen arm. The southpaw spent the 2020 season with the New York Mets where he put up a solid 3.90 ERA, 3.99 FIP and 1.16 WHIP through 25 innings of work. He put up his typical peripherals as well, striking out 33.1% of the batters he faced, but put up an overall weak 11.8% walk rate and 1.44 HR/9.

To go with his solid surface numbers Shreve had a 3.45 SIERA, 3.61 xFIP, 3.40 xERA and 3.74 DRA. Shreve was in the top 95th percentile of whiff rate in all of baseball last season with a 37.4% mark. The lefty had an outstanding fastball in 2020. While he doesn’t throw very hard, he was in the top 77th percentile of fastball spin rate and was ranked 49th among the 317 qualified pitchers in run value per 100 pitches.

Currently, Shreve hasn’t done well in Spring Training. He’s surrendered 3 earned runs on four hits in 4.0 innings of work. However, he hasn’t walked a single batter yet. Shreve likely will get one of the last bullpen spots as the team does not have very many left handed relief options. Sam Howard looked solid in 2020, but he’s the only lefty that is projected to make the bullpen.