4 potential non-tender candidates the Pittsburgh Pirates should keep an eye on

Gregory Soto

Gregory Soto was a two-time All-Star for the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and 2022. In those two years, the hard-throwing southpaw reliever had a 3.34 ERA, 3.88 FIP, and 1.36 WHIP. Soto struggled to limit walks with a 13.7% BB% but struck out 25.2% of opponents with a 0.65 HR/9 rate through 124 innings of work.

Soto has since been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles the last two seasons. There have been a handful of positives. Soto has limited walks better with a 9.9% BB% while keeping a similar 26.3% strikeout rate, 0.79 HR/9 rate, and 1.34 WHIP. But he’s seen his ERA jump to 4.53 over his last 113 innings pitched.

But Soto has been a pitcher who consistently underperforms his expected stats. Despite having an ERA hovering around 4.50 the last two seasons, the southpaw has a 3.83 xFIP and 3.58 SIERA. He has also posted an above-average DRA- in the last two seasons. Last season, Soto was above the 90th percentile of xERA, xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG%. Soto also has limited quality contact, holding opponents to an 88 MPH exit velocity and a 6.6% barrel rate.

Soto’s stuff is undoubtedly good. Stuff+ had Soto at 113, which was the eighth-best among left-handed relievers with at least 50 innings pitched this year out of the pen. His four-seamer and sinker averaged 97-98 MPH. Soto’s slider consistently induces a whiff rate hovering around 50%.

The Pirates have just one left-handed reliever under contract for 2025 on the 40-man roster, and it’s Joey Wentz. Soto is projected to earn $5.6 million in arbitration. Soto has experience in high-leverage. He’s shown more promise than his ERA may tell you. If the O’s end up non-tendering Soto, the Pirates should pick him up.

Chas McCormick

Chas McCormick had a career year in 2023. After two solid seasons to open his MLB career, he posted career bests in all three triple-slash stats, batting .273/.353/.489 with a .362 wOBA and 133 wRC+ through 457 plate appearances. McCormick fell just one stolen base shy of a 20/20 season, with 22 dingers, a .216 isolated slugging percentage, and 19 stolen bases. He had a respectable 8.8% walk rate, which helped offset a less-than-impressive 25.6% K%. 

On top of that, McCormick had proven to be an outstanding defensive outfielder. From his rookie season in 2021 through 2023, he had +17 defensive runs saved, a +9.3 UZR/150, and +22 outs above average. He rotated between all three outfield positions while providing about league-average level arm strength.

Hopes were obviously high for McCormick in 2024, but he failed to even come close to any of his previous seasons. The outfielder hit a meager .211/.271/.306 with a .257 wOBA and 66 wRC+ in an injury-limited 267 plate appearances. After showing off above-average power in these three prior seasons, McCormick only went yard five times with a .095 isolated slugging percentage. His strikeout rate remained at a relatively similar level at 27%, but his walk rate fell to a career-worst 6.6%.

Of the few positives, McCormick was still a solid defensive outfielder. He had +5 OAA while both is arm strength and average distance covered in his jump did not change from last year. But this wasn’t enough to keep McCormick in the Major Leagues, as he was optioned to Triple-A after the Houston Astros signed Jason Heyward.

Unfortunately, an option to the minor leagues wasn’t the only thing that plagued McCormick this season. He missed a good chunk of May with a hamstring injury, but he returned to action later that month. Then, after getting sent to Triple-A, he suffered a fractured hand. 

MLB Trade Rumors projects McCormick to make $3.3 million in arbitration this off-season. McCormick’s defense remains a strong suit, and given that he can play all three outfield positions with grace, he’d make a solid fourth outfielder at worst. The Pirates could definitely use a consistently good defensive outfielder, and if his bat rebounds, he could become a regular once again.

Hunter Harvey

Hunter Harvey broke out with the Washington Nationals, pitching to a 3.17 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP for the Washington Nationals. Throughout the 145 innings he pitched for the Nats, Harvey struck out 27.8% of batters with a walk rate of only 6.4%. He was also not home run prone, only allowing a dozen dingers for a 0.75 HR/9 rate. 

Harvey’s strong numbers with the Nats made him a prime trade candidate this past July. He had proven himself as a high-leverage reliever across two and a half seasons. That led to him getting traded to the Kansas City Royals, but things quickly went awry for Harvey after the trade.

The right-hander would pitch 5.2 very poor innings for the Royals before landing on the 10-day injured list with mid-back tightness in early August. That would be the only innings Harvey would appear on the mound in a Royals uniform, as he was not activated off the IL in September or during the Royals’ playoff run.

Harvey’s time in Kansas City didn’t go according to plan, but if the Royals were to non-tender him, he’d be a prime rebound candidate for 2024. After all, he was pitching well as late as the first half of this past season. Coming off a down season, Harvey could be a huge low-risk/high-reward candidate if the Royals move on from the righty reliever.

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