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.

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.