Multiple non-roster pitchers still looking to claim roster spot for Pirates

The Pirates have several NRI pitchers standing out in camp, who are they and what are chances they make team?

It’s an old cliche, but, indeed, competition usually brings out the best in everyone. The Pirates brought in several veteran pitchers on minor league contracts as non-roster players who are pushing hard for a spot on the Opening Day 26-man, especially on the pitching side.

With less than a week left in Spring Training, there are still plenty of ways that the final roster could go, from the rotation to the bullpen, even the bench can go one of several different directions.

Looking solely at the pitchers, here are some standouts and how they could impact the roster right out of camp.

Brent Honeywell Jr.

The Pirates have gotten a good look at Honeywell Jr., as his eight appearances are tied for the most on the team. He’s had scoreless outings in six of his eight games and has struck out 10 in 7.2 innings pitched.

Honeywell gives the Pirates a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. He threw 52.1 innings last year in 40 games played. The Pirates don’t really have a clear guy for a long-relief role so far, so this would be his opening to make the roster.

Hunter Stratton

He’s in a tie with Honeywell for most appearances this Spring but has yet to allow a run through seven innings pitched. Control has been an issue with Stratton in the minors, but he’s walked just two batters (also hit one) and has seven strikeouts.

Until Dauri Moreta went down with his injury, there didn’t seem to be a spot for Stratton. It would have been an easy roster spot trade to place Moreta on the 60-day to add Stratton, but instead, it was used for Michael A. Taylor.

It’s more likely he starts with Indianapolis, but he’s having as good a Spring as any other pitcher on the staff.

Chase Anderson

The five hits and three earned runs came in his last game, as he had over eight innings of no-hit ball to start the Spring.

He can opt out of his minor league deal to explore free agency, but he’s been solid this Spring. There’s no guarantee he will make the roster, especially as a starter. He hasn’t come out of the bullpen much in his major league career so that he could look for other opportunities elsewhere.

Wily Peralta

The veteran Peralta has had a very solid Spring, although his usage doesn’t really seem like he would be used as a starter if he makes the team.

His splitter has been one of his go-to pitches previously, and it’s continued to serve him well so far this year. He’s struck out seven while allowing just one walk and earned run in 6.2 innings pitched.

Peralta could have some value as a multi-inning guy in the bullpen, especially early in the season when arms aren’t completely stretched out completely.

Jared Jones

He’s maybe had the best Spring among all pitchers, pitching 11.2 innings of shutout baseball. The Pirates said he was competing for a rotation spot this Spring, and he’s certainly done the most with the opportunities given.

I still wouldn’t mind seeing him in Triple-A to start the year, just to see how he handles his first couple of starts going 5+ innings.

Jones pitched four innings the last time around, against a fair amount of Atlanta Braves’ regulars. His max effort pitching style can look especially good in Spring Training, so it’s really a question on how the Pirates feel like he can maintain the stuff for 5+ innings every fifth day.

They also have signed Eric Lauer and Domingo German to minor league contracts during camp, and you would have to expect we see them at some point.

That’s a lot of players to add to the 40-man, so could the Pirates hold off on Jones for a bit, and let him loose later on in the season?

But he’s definitely starting to get a lot more attention around the baseball world.