Pittsburgh Pirates: Left-Handed Bullpen Free Agent Options

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 18: Pitcher Jose Alvarez #48 of the San Francisco Giants throws against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning at Coors Field on May 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 18: Pitcher Jose Alvarez #48 of the San Francisco Giants throws against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning at Coors Field on May 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Low-Risk Low-Cost Options

Zack Britton is looking for a bounce-back year after missing nearly all of the last two seasons. He’s pitched a combined 19 innings in 2021 and 2022, including appearing in just three games in 2022. The last time fans got to watch Britton, though, he was still highly effective. He worked to a 1.90 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP for the New York Yankees between 2019 and 2020. Britton might be willing to take a minor league deal, as he’s barely pitched in two seasons and is now entering his age-36 campaign. How much is left in the tank is unknown at this point for the single-season reliever ERA leader.

A rebound candidate to target is Jose Alvarez. While Alvarez is coming off a rough season in which he gave up nine earned runs in just 15.1 innings for the San Francisco Giants, he was the definition of both durable and consistently good from 2015 through 2021. In those seven seasons, he appeared in 60+ games (minus 2020) and pitched to an ERA+ of 109 or greater in each. All told, he had a 3.15 ERA, 3.48 FIP, and 1.28 WHIP in 366 innings.

One interesting arm that wouldn’t be terrible on a minor league deal is Anthony Gose. A former top prospect outfielder, Gose started transitioning to the mound in 2017. After a decent season at Triple-A in 2021, Gose made his major league pitching debut, tossing 6.2 innings, allowing one earned run, walking just two, and striking out nine.

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Gose was unable to follow that up, allowing 11 earned runs in 21 innings, letting up 14 free passes, and four home runs. But Gose averages out at 96-100 MPH with a slider with nearly 40 inches of vertical movement. There are worse players to have on a minor league deal. He’s the definition of low-risk and high-reward.