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Pittsburgh Pirates: Two Non-Tendered Pitchers Worth Pursuing

By Marty Leap |
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 03: Robert Gsellman #44 of the New York Mets pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 3, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 03: Robert Gsellman #44 of the New York Mets pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 3, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 20: A New Era pillbox Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat is seen in the dugout during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 20: A New Era pillbox Pittsburgh Pirates baseball hat is seen in the dugout during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates should be looking into these two pitchers that were non-tendered and became free agents on Tuesday evening

Major League Baseball’s deadline to non-tender arbitration eligible players contract was 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday. This was moved up from the original deadline that was set to be this upcoming Thursday. This led to the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as the rest of baseball, making roster moves.

Among the Pirate moves, they non-tendered Chad Kuhl. The team reached an agreement with Kevin Newman for a 2022 contract, while also tendering contract offers to Bryan Reynolds and Chris Stratton.

With the CBA set to expire at 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday night a lockout literally just hours away. The expiring CBA is why the non-tendered deadline was moved up. This was done in order to give players who were non-tendered time to sign with a new team before the lockout begins.

Among the players who were non-tendered on Tuesday evening there are a pair of pitchers worth pursuing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. One from an American League club and one from a National League club.

Jun 1, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (48) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports /

Left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd

At one time Matthew Boyd was one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. He was the big piece that went from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Detroit Tigers at the 2015 trade deadline I exchange for David Price.

Boyd’s fate was one of the big storylines as the non-tendered deadline approached. A big factor in the decision to non-tender Boyd is a flexor tendon surgery that could cost him the entire 2022 season.

Boyd is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.89 ERA and a 4.10 FIP in 78.2 innings across 15 starts. In these 15 starts he struck out 19.9% of batters faced, walked 6.8% of batters faced, which was the second lowest walk rate of his career, and he was worth an fWAR of 1.4.

With the exception of the shortened 2020 season in which Boyd made just 12 starts and his injury shortened 2021 season, he was worth an fWAR of at least 2.1 in each of the last 5 seasons. Pre-injury, he was on par to be a 3+ fWAR pitcher which would have been on par with his 3.2 fWAR from 2019.

What the Pittsburgh Pirates should do is offer Boyd a 2-year, incentive ladened contract. This provides the Pirates with insurance incase he does miss all of the 2022 season and/or is nowhere near his old self when he returns. However, it gives Boyd the ability to earn his fair share if he is indeed healthy and pitching well.

Jun 19, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Robert Gsellman (44) throws to the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Robert Gsellman (44) throws to the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman

Three players were non-tendered by the New York Mets on Tuesday. One of these three players was right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman. With Gsellman now a free agent, he is a free agent who could help the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Gsellman is coming off a 2021 season that nearly ended in June due to a lat injury. While Gsellman was able to return for a few two outings in the final weekend of the season, his lat injury cost him over three months.

When healthy Gsellman posted a 3.77 ERA and a 429 FIP in 28.2 innings pitched last season. He walked 5.9% of batters faced, struck out 14.3%, induced ground balls at a 49.5% rate and allowed 3 home runs (0.94 HR/9).

In his career Gsellman has worked as both a starter and a reliever. He’s pitched in 176 games for the Mets with 34 of them being starts. However, since making 22 starts in 2017 he has only made 5 starts. 4 of those starts came in 2020 and the other came in 2021.

Gsellman haș pitched to the tune of a 4.59 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 8.0% walk rate, 18.1% strikeout rate and a home run rate of 1.03. He also has a strong 48.6% ground ball rate in his career. These results have come across 350.2 innings pitched in Queens.

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Gsellman could be a big boost to a Pirate bullpen that is in dire need of a boost. He could pitch in multiple roles out of the bullpen for the Pittsburgh Pirates giving Derek Shelton flexibility. He could also pitch his way into being a nice trade chip in July.

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