The Pirates have plenty of options available to them in order to construct a workable bullpen. Last season, the bullpen was in a constant state of flux due to an array of injuries. The benefit of that was that the Pirates got to look at some guys that they may not have otherwise and some of them really stepped up and solidified their spots in this year’s pen.
The Locks
Richard Rodriguez could be the closer out of this group. Since signing as a minor league free agent before the start of the 2018 season, Rodriguez has been one of the better arms in the pen. Last season, he was given closing duties and recorded 4 saves while recording an ERA of 2.70 over 23.1 innings. Rodriguez has been mentioned in trade speculation due to his success and the fact that he won’t hit free agency until 2022. I would be very surprised if he isn’t dealt before the end of the year or even before the season starts.
Chris Stratton is also a lock for the pen if he’s still here. He is also a good trade candidate. Since coming to Pittsburgh during the 2019 season, Stratton has been a solid arm for them that could go multiple innings if needed. Last year, he threw 30 innings with a 3.90 ERA to finish the year. With some years of control left, Stratton could fetch a prospect or two back in a deal.
Sam Howard came over on a waiver claim before last season. The lefty pitched well out of the pen for the Pirates in 2020 and probably earned himself a spot this year in the process. Howard threw 21 innings with an ERA of 3.91.
Probably In
Geoff Hartlieb struggled mightily in his debut season of 2019. In his 35 innings, he gave up 35 runs. He got hit and hit hard. However, he turned it around in 2020. While he still had moments where he was very hittable and control was off, he showed signs of improvement. Hartlieb threw 22 innings with a 3.91 ERA. I think he has an inside track for a job out of the pen.
Edgar Santana is going to be interesting to watch. Having not pitched in games in about two years due to injury and a PED suspension, Santana has something to prove and management needs to see what he’s got. If he can pitched like he did before Tommy John surgery in 2018, he could be a possible closer candidate. He has 4 more years of controllability left, but will be 30 in October. Time is of the essence for him. If he regains his form and the slider and sinker still work, he could be an interesting trade chip or future piece in the Pirates’ success.
Kyle Crick is in a make or break situation like Santana. Crick was very effective in 2018 after coming to the Pirates in the Andrew McCutchen trade. Then things went downhill. His ERA nearly doubled in 2019 from his performance the year before and his control slipped. Last year, Crick only pitched 5.2 of an inning due to injury. I think he’ll make the pen this year so that management can see if he has it. With his 3 more years of controllability, he could be a a strong piece in the Pirates’ future or a very nice trade piece down the road if he can regain his form and stay healthy.
Chasen Shreve is one of the non-roster invitees in camp this year. He has big league experience and success, so I think he has the inside track on a spot as well. The lefty had a nice year last year for the Mets. He pitched 25 innings with a 3.96 ERA. He also struck out a third of the batters he faced. I think he makes it with the hopes of flipping him at some point during the season. He will be a free agent otherwise at the end of the year.
Luis Oviedo came over in a trade during the Rule 5 draft this past December. He’ll have to make the roster or else he would have to be offered back to his original team. Oviedo has the stuff to be a starter, but the Pirates will want to stash him in the pen this year. Ideally, they could then option him to the minors in 2022 and get him some work in a rotation. He throws hard with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s. He also has a curve and a change that he needs to continue to develop. Since Ben Cherington’s current goal is to add talent, Oviedo should stick with the team this year to provide future rotation depth.
The Rest
Michael Feliz is at the same point in his career as Santana and Crick, but I think his situation is a little more dire. He has the stuff and has shown it, but has lacked consistency. He appeared in 58 games in 2019 and had a 3.99 ERA over 56 innings, but last year was lost to injury. He is also out of options. If he struggles in Spring Training, he might find himself being moved off the roster.
Tyler Bashlor saw some action last year with the Pirates after coming over from the Mets and it didn’t go well. The Pirates like him enough to not have DFA’d him after last season, so he’ll get a look in Spring Training despite his 8.74 ERA in 8 appearances last year.
Carson Fulmer is a former first round draft pick that hasn’t been able to put it all together in the big leagues. Fulmer was claimed off waivers by the Pirates twice last year, but never pitched for them. Honestly, I think he’d worth giving Pirates Pitching Coach, Oscar Marin, a chance to straighten him out. If he shows progress in the spring, I think he could stick with the team until the progress stops. He could also be DFA’d any day now.
Austin Davis is another pick up from last season. He’s one of 3 lefties in camp looking for a spot in the pen. He pitched well in a small sample size with the Pirates last year. Over 3.2 innings, he gave up 1 run. This was after he gave up 7 runs in 3 innings with the Phillies, so progress was made.
Sean Poppen was a starter in the minors for Minnesota before seeing limited action out of the bullpen in 2019 and 2020. Claimed off waivers last October, Poppen hasn’t seen action with the Pirates yet. I think he’ll be DFA’d at some point this spring with the hope of him clearing waivers and being starting depth at AAA.
Chase De Jong has pitched at some point in each of the last 4 seasons. He looks like a depth option at AAA, but got an invite to Spring Training due to his experience. He is the owner of a career 7.12 ERA.
Jandel Gustave is a sleeper. In 2019, he appeared in 23 games for the San Francisco Giants and had an ERA of 2.91. Not too shabby. The Pirates picked him up last season on a 2-year minor league deal. He could be interesting to watch.
Clay Holmes is probably on his last legs with the Pirates. Injuries and control issues have hampered this once highly touted prospect. He has the tools to be successful. Maybe this is the year he stays healthy and puts everything together.
Prospects
Blake Cederlind saw limited action out of the pen last year, but looked intriguing. He pitched 4 innings while giving up a couple runs on 3 hits, a walk, and 4 Ks. Known to hit triple digits, Cederlind could be a future closer. I think he starts the year at AAA, but wouldn’t be shocked if makes the Pirates roster out of camp if others faulted.
Nick Mears got a cup of coffee with the Pirates last year. If it was any other year, he wouldn’t have made the Majors. But since it was 2020, Mears got a shot. Over his 5 innings, he gave up 3 runs on 4 hits with 7 walks and 7 Ks. Mears will probably start the year in AAA. This hard-thrower should make it back up at some point this year.
David Bednar came over from the Padres in the Joe Musgrove trade. He could find his way into the running for a bullpen spot. In 17 innings over the last two seasons in the Majors, he is the owner of an ERA of 6.75. If he can miss the bats, he could be a strong arm out of the pen. I think he starts the year at AAA.
The Pirates could also add whatever pitcher loses the battle for the 5th starter spot. Cody Pounce, Wil Crowe, JT Brubaker, or even James Marvel could find themselves in the pen to start the year. Most likely, they’ll get starter innings in AAA.
Assuming that the Pirates don’t make any more moves, which I’m not, these will be the guys who they have to pick from for their pen. There’s some potential here. There’s also some guys who are on their last chance to get it together. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.
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