Pittsburgh Pirates: Time to Cut Ties With the Veterans

Option Bryse Wilson to the minors, re-call Roansy Contreras

So, this one is a little bit different. Bryse Wilson may not be what most would consider to be a veteran due to him having just 177.2 MLB innings under his belt. That said, he has been pitching in the majors since 2018 and it’s time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to move on.

Wilson has pitched in 14 MLB games this season, 11 of which were starts, logging 61.0 innings pitched. He has posted a 6.20 ERA, 5.16 FIP, just a 15.1% strikeout rate and he has allowed home runs at a 1.62 HR/9 clip. To be blunt, Wilson has been terrible.

This one is also a bit different as the player who should replace Wilson, Roansy Contreras, does not have as much to prove in the majors as some of the other players discussed. While Contreras is far from a finished product, he has also already started to establish a MLB track record and has shown why many have pegged him as a future top of the rotation arm.

Contreras has made 12 MLB appearances this season with nine being starts. He’s posted a 3.78 ERA, 10.1% walk rate, 23.0% strikeout rate and a 1.00 HR/9 rate in 50.0 innings pitched. Most of the damage done against Contreras came in one disastrous start against the Milwaukee Brewers in which he allowed 7 earned runs.

Contreras has limited innings at his disposal this season. Those innings should be wasted in the minor leagues. Instead, they should come with him in Pittsburgh’s starting rotation while Wilson is sent back to the minors.

Wilson is not a MLB pitcher, especially as a starting pitcher. He should not make another start for the Pirates this season. Contreras is one of the better pitching prospects in all of baseball and however many innings he has left in his arm this season should be pitched in the majors.