Pittsburgh Pirates: Change of Scenery Trade Deadline Targets

LHP Jay Groome

Jay Groome was the 12th overall selection by the Boston Red Sox in the 2016 draft. But Groome missed all of 2018 and most of 2019 because of Tommy John surgery. Then with the suspended season in 2020, Groome logged just four innings on the mound across three seasons. He returned healthy in 2021 but struggled, though he has pitched well enough to earn a promotion to Triple-A in 2022.

He’s tossed 76.2 innings with the Red Sox’s Double-A affiliate, posting a healthy 3.52 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 24.9% strikeout rate. But there are some underlying issues. He’s also walked batters at an 11.7% pace and has given up 11 home runs, leading to a sub-par 1.29 HR/9. His unimpressive home run and walk rate gives him a 4.92 FIP. But it is worth noting that four of the 11 home runs he has given up and eight of the 30 earned runs he’s surrendered all came in one start. Outside of that outing, his ERA is 2.65, and his HR/9 is 0.84

Groome’s injury has caused him to lose some velocity. He primarily works in the low-90s but can crank it up to 94-95 MPH in shorter outings. His curveball and slider are both above-average offerings, and his change-up is a solid offering. He only uses his change vs. right-handed batters, though. Lefties obliterated the pitch, posting a .890 OPS against it in 2021.

Groome could be part of a bigger deal between the Red Sox and Pirates. The Sox need some serious help in the starting rotation. They have four arms who have each made at least eight starts on the 15-day injured list at the time of writing this. The likes of Jackie Bradley Jr., Alex Verdugo, and Enrique Hernandez have also provided marginal at best offense. Could we see the Red Sox include another prospect like Bryan Mata in a trade for Jose Quintana? Possibly, depending if they’re desperate enough.