Morning Rundown: Max Kranick claimed by Mets, busy day for free agent pitching market
After being DFA, Max Kranick by another team, multiple free agent pitchers find new home
After being designated for assignment to make room for the Martin Perez signing, Max Kranick was claimed by the New York Mets, ending his time in the Pirates organization.
Kranick, 26, was an 11th-round pick by the Pirates in 2016 as a prep pitcher. He threw five perfect innings during his major league debut during the 2021 season but struggled after that.
In 43.2 career innings with the Pirates, Kranick posted a 5.56 ERA (5.69 xFIP), striking out 36 batters and walking 22.
He returned late in the season, coming off of Tommy John surgery, and pitched in nine games, striking out 14 and walking another nine in 20.2 innings pitched.
Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, and according to Jeff Passan, he will get an opportunity to start.
Another former NL Central pitcher is on the move, as Marcus Stroman is signing with the New York Yankees.
In two years with the Cubs, Stroman posted a 3.73 ERA and 16-16 record.
Every Monday during the offseason, we will be doing a mailbag article. Please send in your questions to have them answered! Either comment below with ‘mailbag’ entered in the message or email us at bucsondeckqa@gmail.com.
I look forward to answering what you guys have!
FWIW, BA has a list of one "sleeper" in every org. Pirates' was Brannigan.
"The Notre Dame alum had an excellent season in 2023, when he advanced to High-A Greensboro and showed off powerful tools across the board. Brannigan’s bag of tricks includes a double-plus throwing arm that ranks as the best in the system, 60-grade defense and speed and power that rank as potentially above-average. Now, he needs to cut down on the swing and miss in order to let his offensive game play to its fullest potential. His defense gives him a floor of a backup big leaguer, but there’s plenty more upside left to tap."
Still wondering why they don't have him trying two-way play at least a little.
Best wishes to Max for good health going forward. Mets seem like a good organization for him to go to from an opportunity standpoint. Hopefully for his sake he takes advantage of the chance and runs with it.
As for Pirates, us fans are still left wanting more. Be it a FA or trade, the organization clearly needs another SP who provides more answers than questions to start the season. The division is there for the taking if Pirates brass would only take a bit of a risk and go for it.
Not holding my breath.