The Pirates' Bullpen Competition
The Pirates' Bullpen Competition
The Chapman addition intensifies the battle
Even before they reached a deal with Aroldis Chapman, the Pirates figured to have a lot of relievers battling for a few bullpen spots. With one more spot set in stone, the competition will only get fiercer.
I just wanted to set out the possibilities all in one spot, just briefly and without trying to argue the case. There’ll be plenty of that in spring training, and of course injuries are always a possibility. I did this in two different lists, one based on roster flexibility and the other on the aftermath of 2023. I’m ignoring David Bednar and Chapman, who are obviously set, so these guys will be competing for, probably, six spots.
* = Left-handed
Roster Flexibility
Relievers With No Options
Ryan Borucki*
Possible Starters With No Options
Roansy Contreras
Bailey Falter*
Relievers With Options
Jose Hernandez*
Colin Holderman
Carmen Mlodzinski
Dauri Moreta
Kyle Nicolas
Colin Selby
NRIs
Ben Heller
Ryder Ryan
Hunter Stratton
2023 Performance
Near-Locks
Ryan Borucki*
Colin Holderman
Carmen Mlodzinski
Must Make Team In Some Capacity
Roansy Contreras
Bailey Falter*
Solid 2023 Contribution
Jose Hernandez*
Dauri Moreta
Longer Shots
Kyle Nicolas
Colin Selby
Ben Heller
Ryder Ryan
Hunter Stratton
If the Pirates go with Borucki, Holderman and Mlodzinski, and Contreras and Falter both make the team as relievers, that leaves one spot. Gonna be tough . . . .
I've seen a lot of Falter posts etc.. so here is my long Starter Depth post addressing that.. all IMO.
Given - Keller - he has to perform and eat innings
Lock to Start in rotation but to count on a lot of innings is very risky - Perez and Gonzalez
A lot to prove but current rotation start of season candidates - Contreras, Priester, Ortiz
Candidate for start of year - 'he is what he is' - Falter
Mid or late year adds / depth:
Given to be in MLB - Brubaker - hopefully as a starter
Reasonable hope if they perform as we hope/dream: Skenes, Jones
Maybe some hope if they perform but a low ceiling - Wolf
Long shots unless they just crush from day 1 - their goal should be to get to AAA later in the year and set themselves up for 2025 or a token 2024 start - Solometo, Chandler, Harrington
Returning from TJ / and still needs to conquer AAA - Burrows - any MLB time is gravy - look to 2025
What does this have to do with Falter? For good or bad he seems like a poor mans innings eater compared to most on the above list. He had a miserable last outing but overall if the expectation is 4 or 5 innings of mediocrity he may be our man. While Gonzalez and Perez are locks in the rotation, they is also IMO a good chance only one of them really is healthy and/or able to provide regular productive starts considering their 2023 results. The other candidates outside of Keller could just get rocked as a worst case scenario (ie. like they did in 2023). This last paragraph sets a very low bar for the rotation but it is where we are and is my defense for why Falter should be kept around even if we add another (Syndergaard) starter.
Bednar
Chapman
Holderman
Borucki
Moreta
Mlod
Hernandez
Contreras/Falter combine for the 5th SP spot and LRP