Pirates lacking left-handed relievers in upper levels
With one left-handed reliever on the 40 man, there isn't much immediate help available
It’s been a quiet start to the offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s been a slow start, but with the Winter Meetings upon us, we’ve seen activity start to pick up.
To this point in the offseason, the only moves the Pirates have made have either been minor league signings or waiver claims.
After non-tendering Connor Joe and Bryan De La Cruz, there is a hole in right field that needs to be filled.
While in right field there are at least bodies that could potentially fill it, there is another position that the Pirates are lacking, and they have little to no options available.
Left-handed reliever.
The bullpen was a big part of the team’s late-season collapse, with Aroldis Chapman eventually taking over the closer role with the struggles from David Bednar.
Chapman became a free agent at the end of the season and signed with the Boston Red Sox.
That leaves just two left-handed pitchers on the 40-man roster, Bailey Falter and Joey Wentz.
Falter put together a solid season in the rotation, and if he remains on the team, it’d likely stay that way in 2025.
That leaves just Wentz, who was claimed off waivers late in the season. He pitched well, allowing just two earned runs in eight games (12 IP), striking out 13 to just six walks.
Outside of Wentz, you’d have to go down to the Double-A roster to find a left-handed reliever, where a few names put together solid 2024 seasons in the minors.
Nick Dombkowski (26, 3.64 ERA in 2024) - Signed as an undrafted free agent reliever, Dombkowski has turned into a solid minor league swingman, capable of starting and pitching out the bullpen. He’s bounced back and forth between Altoona and Indianapolis the last two years, struggling at the latter. He’s more of a depth option at this point.
Cy Nielson (23, 3.92 ERA) - An eighth-round pick out of BYU in 2022, Nielson throws from a lower slot that makes the fastball harder to pick up and plays up in the zone better than the velocity would indicate. He finally made it to Double-A this past season and struggled, but there are underlying traits to like that are worth following to see how he starts in 2025.
Dominic Perachi (23, 3.53 ERA) - He had an interesting year last year, bouncing back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. The numbers in Altoona don’t quite do him justice, but he’s likely better out of the bullpen and spent most of the time in the rotation with the Curve.
Tyler Samaniego (25, 3.57 ERA) - A 2021 day-three draft pick, Samaniego got off to a great start to his pro career but has peaked in Altoona, having pitched there since 2022. He also missed the second half of the season with an injury.
Jaden Woods (22, 3.75 ERA) - If there is a pitcher from this list that could push for a major league spot at some point this season, it’d be Woods. That’d require him to throw more strikes consistently (17 in 34 IP with Altoona). The stuff is good, and his xFIP says he outperformed his 4.93 ERA in Double-A.
If there is a player that could have a Luis Peralta-type season here, where he puts it together and makes the majors (although with another team), it’d be Woods.
At this point, these are all depth options and not close to making an impact at the major league level.
Outside of Chapman, the rest of the notable left-handed reliever free agents are still available. The Pirates likely won’t be in the market for Tanner Scott, the top option available, but some other names are out there.
Danny Coulombe (1.9 WAR)
AJ Minter (1.4)
Jalen Beeks (1.1)
Brooks Raley (1.0)
Andrew Chafin (0.9)
Colin Poche (0.8)
Scott Alexander (0.8)
Ryan Yarbrough (0.8)
Ryan Borucki (0.6)
Drew Smyly (0.6)
There are plenty of names out there, some of which could probably be brought in on a minor league deal initially.
Attention is on the outfield and first base for just cause. The Pirates struggled offensively and have only subtracted from the productivity they got.
The bullpen also needs some help as well, especially when it comes to adding another left-handed pitcher.
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The Pirates appear to have signed a MiL OF named Imanol Vargas and assigned him to Altoona. He’s a power hitter who strikes out a whole lot. He’s also 26, so . . . .
Oy.
I saw Dombkowski pitch a game in Toon Town last season that really looked good. I'm'a say based on that one game, he is a guy who could put it all together.
And... fellas and fellaettes.... I know we're talking southpaws here, but I must remind about Emmanuel Chapman. If'n ya needs to replace a Chapman, well, pardner, we already got one and I loved what I saw of him.
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"We'll just have to get ums all tidied up!"
-Wabbit