Pittsburgh Pirates: Free Agent Targets at Three Positions of Need

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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 01: Roberto Perez #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on May 1, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates still have holes to fill, and in order to fill those holes, should target these nine free agents

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a complete team. They have plenty of top prospects coming up through the minor league system that could help complete the team, but they should still target some free agents to help sure things up on the roster. Overall, they’re getting better and solved their first base issues this past month, but there are more areas they need to figure out before the 2023 season kicks off.

Some glaring holes still need to be patched, and I want to point out a few free agents the Pirates could target to fill those holes. In total, these nine free agents should be on the Pirates’ radar, and they could all provide decent value for the team next season, even if they aren’t the best free agents available.

Catcher

Roberto Perez

A Roberto Perez reunion would give the Pittsburgh Pirates the defense they need behind the dish and a great clubhouse veteran for young backstops like Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis when they eventually reach the majors this year. Before suffering a season-ending injury in early May, Perez looked on his way to a solid campaign. He batted .233/.333/.367 with a .315 wOBA, and 102 wRC+. However, in just over 150 innings, he already had +3 Defensive Runs Saved and +1.8 framing runs.

There are major injury concerns with Perez. 2022 isn’t the only season he’s missed a good chunk of the season. In 2021, he played just 44 games, but the Pirates could preserve his health by letting him take on a lesser role once Rodriguez is promoted. Moving him into a semi-regular or back-up role could help Perez last longer.

Mike Zunino

It was only 2021 that Mike Zunino posted some of the best power numbers for a catcher in recent baseball history. In 2021, his 33 home runs were the 7th most in a single season since the turn of the millennium, and his .342 ISO is the third best among backstops in a single season (min. 300 plate appearances). Overall, Zunino provided the Rays with a .216/.301/.556, 134 wRC+ bat, along with a glove that produced +7 DRS and +8.0 framing runs.

But Zunino was limited to just 36 games this year. The prodigious offense he showed in 2021 dissipated with a meager 43 wRC+. He still was worth +2.2 framing runs, but -2 defensive runs saved. But Zunino is known for his defensive ability and power. He doesn’t need to crush 30+ home runs a year to be productive. He can provide great defense and 20-25 home runs and be a highly valuable member of any roster.

Omar Narvaez

Omar Narvaez has come a long way defensively and is a prime rebound candidate for 2023. Narvaez had a solid 2021 season in which he slashed .266/.342/.402 with a .322 wOBA and 100 wRC+. Along with league-average offense, he also had +3 DRS and +8.8 framing runs. Overall, he had a +2.8 fWAR in just 123 games.

However, Narvaez was limited to about a half season, appearing in 84 contests. When he was healthy, he had the worst offensive season of his career with a .206/.292/.305 triple-slash, .269 wOBA, and 71 wRC+. But on the bright side, he still had +1 defensive runs saved, and an impressive +7.5 framing runs in less than 800 innings.

Oct 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Scott Alexander (54) delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports /

Relief Pitching

Will Smith

The start of 2022 may not have been too memorable for lefty Will Smith, but he ended the season on a very high note. Smith opened the season as a set-up man to Kenley Jansen. But after posting an abysmal 4.38 ERA, 5.06 FIP, and 1.51 WHIP through 37 innings, the Atlanta Braves dealt Smith to the Houston Astros in a one-for-one swap for starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi.

But the move to Houston did Smith a lot of good. Through his final 22 innings of 2022, Smith worked to a 3.27 ERA, 2.66 FIP, and 1.23 WHIP. Smith’s strikeout rate went from 24% to 26.7%, while his walk rate dipped from over 12% to just 4.4%. Arguably the biggest improvement was cutting his HR/9 from 1.7 to just .82. ERA estimators like xFIP and SIERA supported his second-half hot streak at 3.09 and 2.83, respectively.

Carlos Estevez

Carlos Estevez is coming off a fairly solid season with the Colorado Rockies. In 57 innings, Estevez worked to a 3.47 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 1.18 WHIP. Estevez’s peripherals aren’t going to wow anyone. He had a 23% strikeout rate, a 9.8% walk rate, and 1.11 HR/9. Plus, he had just a 4.27 xFIP and 3.88 SIERA. But you also have to remember he pitched in the offensively charged Coors Field and was much better on the road.

When Estevez pitched as the away pitcher, he had a 3.49 ERA but a much better 29.3% K% and 5.2% walk rate. His 1.6 HR/9 isn’t too promising, but you also have to remember he had a 15.6% HR/FB ratio. After adjusting for his HR/FB percentage, he has a 3.02 xFIP.

Scott Alexander

While Scott Alexander might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of the best relief free agents, you can’t deny his ability. He has a career 141 ERA+, and while he’s pitched sparingly across the last two seasons, he’s been highly effective. Alexander has just 32.2 innings under his belt in ‘21-’22 but owns a 1.93 ERA, 3.78 FIP, and 0.98 WHIP.

Alexander clocks in with a 13.8% strikeout rate but an above-average .83 HR/9 rate. However, the most impressive peripheral is his 3.8% walk rate. Last year with the San Francisco Giants, he had a 1.6% walk rate in a smallish sample size of 17.1 innings of work. The ERA estimators don’t hate him either, with a 3.16 SIERA and 3.51 xFIP.

Starting Pitching

Drew Smyly

Drew Smyly is coming off a very solid season for the division rival Chicago Cubs. In 106.1 innings, Smyly worked to a 3.47 ERA, 4.23 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP. Smyly’s 20.4% strikeout rate is a single-season career worst, but his 5.8% walk rate is the best he’s had since 2013. Smyly struggled with limiting home runs with a 1.35-per-9 rate, but he kept batters to an 86.7 MPH exit velocity.

The Pittsburgh Pirates would be taking a risk, given that Smyly’s track record is pretty inconsistent. He only had a 4.18 xFIP and 4.06 SIERA last season as well. But Smyly does have a 96 ERA- since mid-season 2019 (meaning he’s been about 4% better than average) and is still a relatively low-cost gamble.

Zach Eflin

While Zach Eflin has dealt with some injuries, he’s consistently been an average or better starting pitcher for the last few seasons. Eflin only pitched 75.2 innings but owned a 4.04 ERA, 3.56 FIP, and 1.12 WHIP. He only struck out 20.8% of the batters he faced with a 0.95 HR/9, but he also had an elite 4.8% walk rate. Eflin’s underlying numbers also support a better pitcher with a 3.78 SIERA and 3.81 xFIP.

While Eflin has run into injuries, he’s consistently above average. It’s the fourth season in a row he’s posted an ERA+ of 100 or better and the third straight season with a sub-4.00 FIP. When he’s healthy, Eflin is a decent starting pitcher, but he’s pitched less than 110 innings in each of the last two seasons (the last three seasons, if you count 2020).

Wade Miley

Like with Eflin, while Wade Miley is coming off an injury-marred 2022 campaign, he represents a steady veteran rotation option on the free-agent market. He only pitched 37 innings for the Chicago Cubs. Of the few silver linings of his 2022 season, he was decently effective when healthy. Miley owned a 3.16 ERA, 3.95 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP in the few times he did take the mound.

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But Miley was also highly effective in 2021. In 163 innings for the Cincinnati Reds, Miley was the owner of a 3.37 ERA, 3.97 FIP, and 1.33 WHIP. Miley has never been a strikeout pitcher, and his 18.1% strikeout rate falls in line with his career averages. But his 7.2% walk rate was well above average, and he had a 0.94 HR/9 despite pitching in a very hitter-friendly park, that being Great American Ballpark.

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