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4 players with options the Pittsburgh Pirates should monitor

There are some players with options that could hit free agency at the start of the offseason, and they should be names the Pirates consider pursuing.

ByNoah Wright|
Jul 30, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first base Ryan O'Hearn (32) reacts after hitting a two run single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Jul 30, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first base Ryan O'Hearn (32) reacts after hitting a two run single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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Phil Maton

The Tampa Bay Rays picked up Phil Maton after he posted a 3.00 ERA fueled by a 27% strikeout rate, a 9.1% walk rate, and 0.82 HR/9 with the Houston Astros in 2023. Maton induced a ton of weak contact with the Astros, with batted balls against him averaging out to an 84.5 MPH exit velocity and 7.2% barrel rate. The Rays were hoping to get more production like that, but things ended up not going as planned.

The veteran reliever posted just a 4.58 ERA, 5.63 FIP, and 1.33 WHIP while in Tampa. His strikeout rate dropped significantly to just 19.7%, while his walk rate rose to 11.8%. Maton became much more home run prone with a 1.58 HR/9 rate. He also induced far less soft contact, with an 87.1 MPH exit velocity and 9.1% barrel rate. 

The Rays decided to move on from Maton, sending him packing to the New York Mets for cash, but this ended up being a great pickup for the Metropolitans. Maton pitched to a 2.51 ERA, 2.57 FIP, and 0.84 WHIP. His strikeout rate returned to his 2023 level, coming in at 26.5%, but his walk rate significantly improved to 5.3%. His strikeout rate isn't the only number that returned closer to his 2023 form, as his exit velocity dropped to 85.1 MPH, and his barrel rate fell to 4.1%. This, in turn, helped him lower his HR/9 to 0.31.

So far in the postseason, Maton has not pitched well for the Mets. He has only logged 2.2 innings, but has allowed four earned runs. Two of the seven hits he has allowed have left the park, and he has struck out a trio of batters to combat just one walk. It is a small sample size that likely will not greatly impact the Mets' decision, but is worth noting nonetheless.

The Mets now hold a $7.75 million team option over Maton. If he pitched like he did with the Mets for the entire year, he'd almost assuredly return for the second season of his contract. But he didn't, and he struggled before getting traded. $7.75 million isn't an inexpensive option, considering the season Maton is coming off of. If he does hit the open market, he is a reliever who could help bolster the Pirates' bullpen.

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