Pittsburgh Pirates: Free Agent Left Handed Relief Options

The Pittsburgh Pirates should be in the market for both left-handed relief and starting pitching this winter. Here are some potential options to strengthen the bullpen

The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the offseason with only one left-handed pitcher on the roster, until this past week when the Pirates designated Manny Bañuelso for assignment. Bañuelos was then non-tendered on Friday, making him a free agent. This has left their 40-man roster without a single left-handed pitcher, which is something the club will need to address before spring training.

What options are available to the Pittsburgh Pirates to address this need? Whether it be through trade or free agency the Pirates will find a way to address this need, so let’s take a look at a few potential options in free agency this winter.

Matt Strahm

Matt Strahm, who just turned 31, is a former top prospect turned reliever, settling in last year in Boston’s bullpen. Strahm posted a 3.83 ERA and 3.72 FIP in 44.2 innings across 50 appearances, striking out 52 batters. His strikeout rate of  26.9% was steadily above average, while his walk rate was just above league average at 8.8%. Strahm throws a fastball, slider, curveball, sinker, and change-up, a large arsenal for a reliever.

His fastball is his best pitch and could be one of the better fastballs in the bullpen, with velocity in the mid-90s and above average spin rates. Batters hit just .145 against his fastball, which also carried a whiff rate of 29% and a put-out rate of 28.6%. His breaking pitches play as well, with his slider carrying a whiff rate of 27.5%, while batters only hit .135 against his curve.

Strahm’s delivery can be deceptive and his ability to tunnel pitches can only make his stuff better. His fastball misses bats and his breaking pitches limit contact, making him a quality addition if the Pirates were to pursue him, which they should.

Joely Rodriguez

Joely Rodriguez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $55,000 in 2009 and has gone on quite the journey since then. He spent this past season in the Big Apple with the Mets, posting a 4.47 ERA and 3.23 FIP across 50.1 innings, while striking out 57 batters. He was an important part of the Mets’ bullpen, behind elite closer Edwin Diaz, pitching the vast majority of his innings in the 7th & 8th inning.

Rodriguez posted a 26.4% strikeout rate to go with a 53.8% ground-ball rate, which ranked in the top 25 of relievers with at least 40 innings pitched. Rodriguez excels at limiting contact. Batters had an 85.3 mph average exit velocity against him, which ranks in the top 96 percentile per Baseball-Savant.

Rodriguez primarily throws a sinker and change-up, with his sinker averaging around 93 mph. He uses both pitches effectively to limit hard contact, both carrying a slugging % of around .300, with the change-up carrying a 38.5% whiff rate. He also throws a 4-seem and slider, though not as often.

Rodriguez would be a great addition to the bullpen as both a left-handed reliever and late-inning guy that can setup for David Bednar. He is also from the Dominican Republic and would join several other Dominican players on the Pirates’ roster, including many young and up-and-coming pitchers that the veteran could provide valuable leadership for. If the price is right, the Pirates should jump on this one.

Andrew Chafin

Andrew Chafin is an obvious option, though likely the most expensive reliever on this list. Chafin became a free agent after declining his $6.5M option with Detroit at the start of the offseason, meaning the Pirates will need to step out of their comfort zone in order to make a deal happen.

Chafin is 32-years-old and is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP over 57.1 IP, good enough for a 0.9 fWAR. It was a solid follow up to 2021 in which he posted 1.83 ERA and 2.98 FIP over 68.2 IP for a 1.4 fWAR. His 2.3 fWAR over the past 2 season ranks him 20th in baseball among qualified relievers.

Chafin excels at limiting contact, as well as generating a lot of whiffs. He throws a sinker, slider and 4-seem fastball. His slider is his best pitch and one of the best in baseball, generating a 60.4% whiff rate and an incredible .085 batting average against. It’s a lethal pitch that tends to make hitters look silly (sorry, Cole):

Chafin will likely be looking for a multi-year deal, which would help the Pirates potentially lower the AAV on a contract. It is typically not like the Pirates to make a move like this, but it is a major need on the team. If the Pirates wish to potentially contend this year, a move like this should be made.

Regardless of what happens this offseason, the Pirates are destined to add at least one left-handed reliever to the bullpen. Any of these options would be great additions. Whether the Pirates can find a cheaper deal with a guy like Norris, or go all in on a guy like Chafin, look for them to be active in this market over the winter.