3 international relievers the Pittsburgh Pirates should pursue this offseason

Kaima Taira

Kaima Taira is a seven-year veteran of NPB. During the first five seasons of his pro career, Taira was used as a reliever. He was quite dominant as well, posting a 1.38 ERA, 30.9% strikeout rate, and 10.8% walk rate. Still, the Saitama Seibu Lions moved him into their starting rotation in 2023.

He was still a solid arm, working to a respectable 2.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 2.78 K:BB ratio. Taira whiffed a quarter of his opponents as a starter, while handing out walks at a 9% rate. He was not very home run prone, either, with an 0.60 HR/9 ratio. However, his overall stuff took a hit after moving into the rotation.

This past year, Taira was limited due to injuries and saw more bullpen action once again, pitching 51 innings in 25 games. Although he had a low 1.74 ERA, he walked 9.7% of opponents with a strikeout rate of only 20.3%. While his walk rate was right around his career average of 10.4%, this marked a career-low K% for Taira. On the plus side, he continued to limit home runs well, surrendering two long balls, leading to a HR/9 ratio of 0.35.

When Taira pitches in shorter stints, he sits in the upper 90s, averaging out around 96-98 MPH with carry. But when he was used as a starter, he was sitting closer to 93-94 MPH. His splitter still looks like a plus offering. He’ll also mix in a slider as his breaking offering. His command is fringy, however, as his career walk rate is just a touch over 10%.

Taira reportedly has “MLB aspirations.” The Pirates could offer that to him. The soon-to-be 25-year-old right-hander will be old enough, with enough experience, to be considered a foreign professional, so the Pirates would have to offer him an MLB contract.