Pittsburgh Pirates: Post-Work Stoppage Free Agent Starting Pitching Targets

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Brett Anderson #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cardinals defeated the Brewers 10-2. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 22: Brett Anderson #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cardinals defeated the Brewers 10-2. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Brett Anderson #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Brett Anderson #25 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

Brett Anderson

Veteran lefty Brett Anderson could provide the Pittsburgh Pirates with extra depth in their starting rotation. He is also someone who could help eat innings in 2022 in an effort to help avoiding over-taxing younger arms.

Anderson made 24 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, pitching 96 innings. He posted a quality 4.22 ERA and 4.39 FIP, to go with a home run rate of just 1.03 HR/9. While Anderson struck out just 14.2% of batters faced, he continued to demonstrate strong control walking just 6.8% of opposing batters.

In his career Anderson has pitched 1140.1 innings in 222 games (210 starts). His lifetime ERA is 4.07, to go with a 3.97 FIP, 6.3% walk rate, and a 16.0% strikeout rate. Anderson has quietly been a quality middle-to-back of the rotation lefty for over a decade.

The 13-year MLB veteran will be 34-years-old on Opening Day. While his best days are undoubtedly behind him, Anderson can still be a quality MLB pitcher capable of helping a team win games. He could also be a quality veteran mind for the young Pirate arms to pick, and he could also become a quality trade chip for the Bucs in July.

Odds are the veteran would settle for a one-year deal on the free agent market. This is likely what the Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking to issue as they attempt to continue to bolster their starting rotation for 2022. When the work stoppage ends Anderson’s name is certainly one that Pirate fans could hear connected to their club.