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.

Daniel Norris

Daniel Norris is another starter who’s transitioned to the bullpen, pitching out of the pen for both the Cubs and Tigers this past season, posting a 5.22 ERA and 5.14 FIP across 58.2 innings with 66 strike outs. The surface numbers aren’t pretty, but Norris was dealt to the TIgers mid-season and posted a 3.81 ERA and 4.68 FIP across 28.2 innings.

Norris throws mainly a fastball, slider, and change-up. His fastball, while on the slower side, has spin rates in the top 74 percentile per Baseball Savant, though it also get hit hard to the tune of a .398 wOBA. His slider and change-up generate a lot of whiffs, however, with whiff rates of 37.4% and 41.2% respectively.

The underlying numbers look a lot better, as well. Norris’s 30% strike out rate ranks 10th among left-handed relievers with at least 30 innings pitched last season. He also posted a 3.99 xFIP, indicating that his ERA could be inflated, considering he gave up home runs well above his career averages.

Adding Norris would give the Pittsburgh Pirates a swing & miss pitcher as well as a guy who could cover multiple innings, a trait the team typically values. Norris is likely the most inexpensive guy on this list and with his whiff-generating stuff could be a great low-cost addition to the bullpen.

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.