Braves DFA opens door for Pirates reunion amid bullpen struggles

It's time Pittsburgh Pirates president of baseball operations Ben Cherington starts taking some chances. Cherington's first task is to fix the Pirates ailing bullpen. While Pittsburgh won the latter two games of their series in Sacramento, the road trip didn't get off to an ideal start thanks to self-inflicted wounds once Jared Jones left the game.

Carmen Mlodzinski hasn't been the answer, and frankly the Pirates are out of options these days. Dennis Santana and Mason Montgomery sure as heck can't reliably get the ball to Gregory Soto in the ninth.

So, why not take a chance on an old friend? The Atlanta Braves designated right-handed relief pitcher Hunter Stratton for assignment on Wednesday. Stratton struggled during his final season in Pittsburgh, with an ERA over 23 (real number) in just three appearances, but the two years prior he was reliable as ever. In Atlanta, he had a 2.08 ERA in just over 17 innings.

Hunter Stratton could be exactly what the Pirates bullpen needs

It's rare for a relief pitcher of Stratton's caliber to become available, especially since he was pitching for the top team in FanSided's MLB Power Rankings. The Braves have an embarrassment of riches on their pitching staff. The Pirates are left searching for scraps, and Stratton could be an answer to many of their problems.

Stratton doesn't have a particularly high strikeout rate — he K's just under a quarter of the hitters he faced in Atlanta. What he does do well is get batters to hit the ball on the ground. Stratton can strand runners with the best of them, as he left inherited runners on at a 87.9% clip with the Braves. While a 4.00 FIP and 3.73 SIERA suggest he wasn't as dominant as the more basic counting stats would have you believe, the Pirates only need Stratton to be serviceable.

Where Hunter Stratton would fit on the Pirates

The five-day waiver process could complicate the mere act of acquiring Stratton for the Pirates. As for where Stratton will fit in, that's up to Cherington and Don Kelly. The first inclination would be to try the right-hander in the sixth or seventh inning as part of the bridge to Gregory Soto. Stratton has intriguing stuff, as his fastball can reach 96 MPH. His secondary pitches, which include a slider and cutter, can keep hitters off balance.

Stratton often pitches to contact. The Pirates' infield defense, especially when Konnor Griffin is healthy, can be a strength up the middle. That should play well for the 29-year-old in Pittsburgh if given the opportunity.

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