Pittsburgh Pirates Non-Tender Two Players, Avoid Arbitration With One

Aug 20, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido (70)
Aug 20, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido (70) / Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
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Prior to Friday's deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates non-tendered two pitchers and avoided arbitration with a third

Friday evening was the deadline for Major League clubs to tender contracts to their arbitration eligible/pre-arbitraiton eligible players for the 2024 season. If a player is not tendered a contract they become a free agent. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, there were two players who were non-tendered.

The two pitchers the Pirates non-tendered were right-handers Osvaldo Bido and Hunter Stratton. With this, they are both now free agents. However, one would likely assume the Pirates would be open to welcoming both of them back on minor league deals.

Both Bido and Stratton made their MLB debuts with the Pirates in 2023. However, they came in very different roles.

Bido originally joined the team as a member of their starting rotation, before transitioning to a long relief/swing-man role out of the bullpen. He was up and down throughout the summer, and was even designated for assignment at one point. All told, Bido posted a 5.86 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 8.9% walk rate, 20.3% strikeout rate, and a 0.71 HR/9 in 50.2 innings pitched across 16 appearances, 9 of which were starts.

Stratton's debut came as a September call-up. In 12.0 MLB innings pitched in September, Stratton posted a 2.25 ERA and a 4.76 FIP. He allowed 2 home runs (1.50 HR/9), walked 6.4% of batters faced, and struck opponents out at a 21.3% clip.

Pirates, Ryan Borucki settle

The Pirates were also able to agree to terms on a contract with one of their arbitration eligible players for 2024. This player was left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki. According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Borucki's deal for 2024 will be worth $1.6 million.

With this, Borucki will be able to avoid arbitration this offseason. This is a well deserved pay raise for the 29-year-old lefty who had a great, breakout season with the Pirates in 2023.

In 40.1 innings pitched, Borucki posted a career best 2.45 ERA and 3.50 FIP. He walked just 2.6% of batters faced, limited home runs to a 0.89 HR/9 rate, and struck out 21.7% of opposing batters. With this, Borucki solidified himself as a key cog in the Pirate bullpen entering 2024.

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