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Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Potential Starting Pitcher Free Agent Targets
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in need of some starting pitching for the 2022 season. There are plenty of free agent options to choose from if the Pirates want to do so. Here are three free agent starting pitchers the Pirates should consider signing for the upcoming year.
Right-handed pitcher Jon Gray
The Pittsburgh Pirates should consider signing soon to be free agent right-handed pitcher, Jon Gray. Gray pitched and started in 29 games with the Rockies in 2021. He had a decent campaign with Colorado going 8-12 on the year with a 4.59 ERA. He pitched 149.0 innings and struck out 157 batters.
He only walked 9.0% of the batters faced in 2021. On top of a good walk percentage, Gray struck out 24.4% of the batters he went against. This averaged out to be an impressive 9.48 K/9. He finished the year with a 4.22 FIP and a 2.3 WAR with the Rockies.
Gray was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2013 and made his debut with them on August 4th 2015. Soon to be 31, Gray showed he can still pitch effectively in this league. In his career as a major league pitcher, Gray has a 53-49 record with an overall 4.59 ERA in 152 games.
In Gray’s final season with Colorado his contract was for $6 million. I think it would be fair for the Pittsburgh Pirates to sign him close to this amount with how he performed in the 2021 season. I would like to see him get a multi-year deal to help with the rebuild.
Left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney
Currently the Pittsburgh Pirates only have one left-handed starting pitcher in the rotation. This of course is Steven Brault. I think the Pirates should consider signing Andrew Heaney not only because he would be another lefty, but also because he could be a viable part of the rotation.
Heaney started the year with the Los Angeles Angels, but was traded at the deadline to the New York Yankees for two prospects. Right-handed pitchers, Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero were sent to the Angels in return.
In 2021, Heaney had an overall record of 8-9 with a 5.83 ERA. He pitched in 30 games and started in 23 of them. He pitched a total of 129.2 innings and had 150 strikeouts on the year. He finished the year with a 4.85 FIP and a 1.0 WAR with the Angels and Yankees. In his career, Heaney has a 4.72 ERA with a 6.7% walk rate. He also strikes out 24.2% of his batters he faces. This could be a guy the Pittsburgh Pirates could help get his career back on track.
It was a down year for Heaney, so I believe he could be an affordable veteran option for the rotation. His final contract was for around $6.75 million. I think the Pirates could sign him for less because of his performance this past year. Hopefully Ben Cherington can get a guy like Heaney for next season.
Left-handed pitcher Martin Perez
Another left-handed starting pitching option the Pittsburgh Pirates should consider is Martin Perez. Perez pitched in 36 games this year with the Boston Red Sox and started 22 of them. He pitched 114.0 innings and had 97 strikeouts. He finished the regular season with a 4.74 ERA and an overall record of 7-8.
Perez ended the regular season with a 7.1% walk and 19.1% strikeout rate with the Red Sox. He had a 43.6% ground ball percentage was well. He ended up with a 0.6 WAR and a 4.82 FIP. In his career, Perez has a 63-69 overall record with a 4.71 ERA.
Perez will hit free agency after this season and will only be 31 years of age by the start of next year. His contract with the Boston Red Sox this year is for $6 million. If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to slightly overpay to get a veteran left-handed pitcher like Perez, then this would be a good opportunity too.
Time will tell if Ben Cherington wants to add another veteran pitcher for the upcoming season like he did the previous year with the addition of Tyler Anderson. Anderson ended up being a good trade piece at the deadline and maybe one of these pitchers could do the same for the 2022 season.