Bullpens are funky, as someone said above. Remember Mike Williams? Jason Grilli? Even David Bednar? More recently Denis Santana? Tony Watson, etc.
Great relievers who were not prior.
For Bednar to be great again he needs to rediscover the filth and control on his curve. He amazed in his initial pirates work with that pitch and his FB is still very good.
I’m a fan of pushing at least one young sp to compete for a long role- as examples see what Boston is doing with Quinn Preister or the successes that many teams are making of reliever to SP conversions headlined by Crochet. It’s ok to introduced to MLB innings out of the pen and a perfect candidate IMO is Burrows.
According to a report cited at DKPS, on 1/15 the Pirates are going to sign a 17yo Cuban LHP named Yoslaniel Hernandez. Supposedly throws 90-93, which is promising for a 17yo.
I'll feel a lot better if/when (surely we will, right?) we acquire someone who can be a plan b to Bednar closing. The two obvious candidates currently on the roster are Holderman and Santana, but they don't have enough of a track record to make me feel confident and I like them as 7th/8th inning guys that Shelton can mix and match anyway.
It’s surprising that the team hasn't made any significant moves to bolster their bullpen yet. I would add two established arms on major league contracts to shore up the bullpen. For around $10 million, it's possible to sign two reliable relievers who can make an immediate impact. Caleb Ferguson and Jose Leclerc are two potential targets who could be good additions to the team. Both players have shown promise in the past, and they would bolster the bullpen.
I think it would be smart to sign Ferguson and Leclerc to two-year deals, as it would provide stability and depth to the bullpen. This would also give the team two fall back guys the next two years in case Holderman and Bednar don’t bounce back. However, I do believe both Holderman and Bednar will bounce back this year. Additionally, the emergence of guys like Nicolas, Santana, and Mlodzinski last year was a positive sign, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to develop and contribute to the bullpen.
I think adding two legit backend arms is a no brainer. Hopefully they view it that way too.
If we are going off the old assumption that bullpens are fluky and fungible, why-oh-why would you give mlb contracts when you can fungible your way towards extasy?
I mean, I liked the addition of Chapman last season, sure.
However, I find it much more likely that they'll find a guy with that arm slot and some spin rate or other metric that might just work.
Question for those who know better: What are the chances the Bucs take two of say Ashcraft and Burrows and stretch them out like swing men? I believe I've seen other teams do that... bring up a good pitcher with no experience and work him into the bullpen to get his feet wet and then let him grow from there.
Last year, all I'm sayin' is that the bullpen was considered a strength at the beginning of the year.
I agree! But only way they really improve is if they make some trades. I would Brandon Lowe and Ward. I think that fixes your offense and maybe see if Gonzales can handle SS? He has graded out pretty well there. That gives you two guys that will hit 20+ HRs.
I just can’t see them getting deals done and not getting hosed on what they give up.
Yeah I think it adds the most value. With a good bullpen last year this team probably makes the playoffs.
I still think they need to sign a cheap starter as well. I know everyone keeps saying they have 8-9 guys for the rotation but Oviedo and burrows are coming off TJ and Harrington, Chandler and Ashcraft most likely will be on pitch limits and splitting time between triple A and the big league club. I’d grab a Lorenzen type to start the season, he could also move to the bullpen if needed.
They also still need to address RF too. I think a Grichuk/Suwinski platoon would be good or even a hays/Suwinski platoon. Neither guy should cost much. What I’d really want is a trade for Taylor Ward or for them to pony up for profar.
Robert Murray recently said that the pirates were looking at Alex Verdugo. I have mixed feelings but last year he was smited by the BABIP gods so he may be due positive regression.
He is interesting. Maybe coming to a smaller market he can perform better. He was a top prospect and has had a decent career so far. Maybe they can find something with him. Not sure what he’d cost though.
Dunno. I probably have an inherent bias toward guys throwing more than one breaking ball because, under NH, they always restricted pitchers to just one. Should depend on the individual.
Nice review WTM. I am shocked we only have one LHRP......that's gotta change, and pretty sure BC will do something there.
Bullpens are funky, as someone said above. Remember Mike Williams? Jason Grilli? Even David Bednar? More recently Denis Santana? Tony Watson, etc.
Great relievers who were not prior.
For Bednar to be great again he needs to rediscover the filth and control on his curve. He amazed in his initial pirates work with that pitch and his FB is still very good.
I’m a fan of pushing at least one young sp to compete for a long role- as examples see what Boston is doing with Quinn Preister or the successes that many teams are making of reliever to SP conversions headlined by Crochet. It’s ok to introduced to MLB innings out of the pen and a perfect candidate IMO is Burrows.
The depth signings are pitiful imo.
And going into the season with Wentz as the only LHRP is really bad. He should be their 3rd or 4th LHRP option.
The Rainey signing is the only one I personally would've taken a chance on.
Definitely need a couple more decent relief arms. I'm NOT convinced they will add any outfield bat worth noting.
Craig Kimbrel bounce back for $7mil might do it
We should give it another go with Honeywell
According to a report cited at DKPS, on 1/15 the Pirates are going to sign a 17yo Cuban LHP named Yoslaniel Hernandez. Supposedly throws 90-93, which is promising for a 17yo.
https://x.com/francysromeroFR/status/1875621893262471285
I'll feel a lot better if/when (surely we will, right?) we acquire someone who can be a plan b to Bednar closing. The two obvious candidates currently on the roster are Holderman and Santana, but they don't have enough of a track record to make me feel confident and I like them as 7th/8th inning guys that Shelton can mix and match anyway.
The third candidate might be Mlod. He seems to be wired for a closer's role.
It’s surprising that the team hasn't made any significant moves to bolster their bullpen yet. I would add two established arms on major league contracts to shore up the bullpen. For around $10 million, it's possible to sign two reliable relievers who can make an immediate impact. Caleb Ferguson and Jose Leclerc are two potential targets who could be good additions to the team. Both players have shown promise in the past, and they would bolster the bullpen.
I think it would be smart to sign Ferguson and Leclerc to two-year deals, as it would provide stability and depth to the bullpen. This would also give the team two fall back guys the next two years in case Holderman and Bednar don’t bounce back. However, I do believe both Holderman and Bednar will bounce back this year. Additionally, the emergence of guys like Nicolas, Santana, and Mlodzinski last year was a positive sign, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to develop and contribute to the bullpen.
I think adding two legit backend arms is a no brainer. Hopefully they view it that way too.
I "kind of" disagree here.
If we are going off the old assumption that bullpens are fluky and fungible, why-oh-why would you give mlb contracts when you can fungible your way towards extasy?
I mean, I liked the addition of Chapman last season, sure.
However, I find it much more likely that they'll find a guy with that arm slot and some spin rate or other metric that might just work.
Question for those who know better: What are the chances the Bucs take two of say Ashcraft and Burrows and stretch them out like swing men? I believe I've seen other teams do that... bring up a good pitcher with no experience and work him into the bullpen to get his feet wet and then let him grow from there.
Last year, all I'm sayin' is that the bullpen was considered a strength at the beginning of the year.
Plan so well they should reach out and wabbit
I think adding arms like you described is the best, maybe only, realistic way we have left of significantly improving the team next year
We still need to score runs. Almost every offensive category we were in the bottom two or three. We need to score run. Just my opinion.
I agree! But only way they really improve is if they make some trades. I would Brandon Lowe and Ward. I think that fixes your offense and maybe see if Gonzales can handle SS? He has graded out pretty well there. That gives you two guys that will hit 20+ HRs.
I just can’t see them getting deals done and not getting hosed on what they give up.
Yeah I think it adds the most value. With a good bullpen last year this team probably makes the playoffs.
I still think they need to sign a cheap starter as well. I know everyone keeps saying they have 8-9 guys for the rotation but Oviedo and burrows are coming off TJ and Harrington, Chandler and Ashcraft most likely will be on pitch limits and splitting time between triple A and the big league club. I’d grab a Lorenzen type to start the season, he could also move to the bullpen if needed.
They also still need to address RF too. I think a Grichuk/Suwinski platoon would be good or even a hays/Suwinski platoon. Neither guy should cost much. What I’d really want is a trade for Taylor Ward or for them to pony up for profar.
Robert Murray recently said that the pirates were looking at Alex Verdugo. I have mixed feelings but last year he was smited by the BABIP gods so he may be due positive regression.
He is interesting. Maybe coming to a smaller market he can perform better. He was a top prospect and has had a decent career so far. Maybe they can find something with him. Not sure what he’d cost though.
Just don’t see a backup closer on this list.
I'll say.
Wonder if Nicolas would benefit from limited all of the options and settling on just one breaking ball to go with his heater?
He really needs a changeup.
Without looking at the data, that seems to have worked for Santana....iirc he's pretty exclusively FB/Slider.
Santana credited some of his success last year to working with Aroldis Chapman.
Dunno. I probably have an inherent bias toward guys throwing more than one breaking ball because, under NH, they always restricted pitchers to just one. Should depend on the individual.
Thats fair, just wondering while he is ironing things out if simplifying the might benefit since his stuff is so good