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Howdy, and welcome to a different version of Semi-Rebuilding Group Indicators Strong Gamers. Final time, we saw the Kansas Metropolis Royals signal Michael Wacha and Hunter Renfroe. This time, we’re headed 800 miles east, to Pittsburgh, as a result of the Pirates are our subsequent characteristic. Prior to now week, they’ve added Martín Pérez and crew legend Andrew McCutchen on one-year offers.
The McCutchen signing is the extra fascinating of the 2 to me – and in addition one which felt inevitable for the reason that conclusion of final season. McCutchen loved a resurgent 2023 in Pittsburgh, his first yr again after a five-year, four-team odyssey that he launched into after leaving earlier than the 2018 season. He walked extra, struck out much less, stole extra bases, made stable contact extra steadily; in case you can dream it, he did it higher final yr than he had in his earlier peregrinations.
The results of that enchancment was a 115 wRC+ and a .256/.378/.397 slash line, heavy on on-base and light-weight on homers (12, the bottom he’s posted in a wholesome season). Early within the season, it appeared like that efficiency is perhaps a key a part of a Pirates playoff berth. However the crew pale within the second half, and McCutchen’s season ended on September 4 when he partially tore his Achilles tendon legging out a double.
That’s not how anybody wished it to finish, and so it didn’t finish. McCutchen is sitting on 299 residence runs, and clearly nonetheless has one thing left within the tank. The truth is, he was the most effective hitter on the crew on a price foundation final yr, and he comfortably tasks as ok to begin for them this yr once more. He’s additionally a metropolis legend and reminder of the final Pirates playoff crew, which absolutely doesn’t damage the crew’s estimation of him.
The plain advantages of this signing don’t even cease there; the Pirates farm system has produced quite a lot of robust main leaguers and appears poised to provide many extra, however McCutchen doesn’t block any of them. He performed DH nearly completely final yr, often moonlighting in proper subject. Pittsburgh’s system is heavy on up-the-middle varieties; along with signing McCutchen, they went out and signed Rowdy Tellez to play first base.
That’s the sort of transfer you solely make if DH and first base are huge open; McCutchen may not have a whole lot of positional flexibility, however his position completely fits Pittsburgh’s wants. The one factor that might have stopped a McCutchen/Pittsburgh reunion was that Achilles harm, however luckily it wasn’t a whole tear, which could have required extra intensive rehabilitation.
If the Pirates wish to proceed their enchancment from final season and contend for a playoff spot in 2024, they’ll have to hit higher; their team-wide 90 wRC+ final yr merely didn’t lower it. McCutchen ought to assist with that objective, and at $5 million, the worth is definitely proper. That is the uncommon deal that checks each field I can suppose up. You possibly can’t at all times signal a franchise legend to fill an precise want on a crew that hopes to be aggressive – however in case you can, it is best to.
That’s the simple a part of the Pirates transaction evaluation. Peréz requires a bit extra of an investigation. He’s a quintessential journeyman, with a profession 100 ERA- and 102 FIP-. In different phrases, he’s been nearly precisely league common throughout 1,440 profession innings. In 2023, his already low-whiff sport turned additional in that course; his strikeout and swinging strike charges have been close to his profession lows, and his efficiency suffered in consequence. He ended up as a part-time starter for Texas and didn’t have a playoff rotation spot.
At this level in his profession, I feel that’s an acceptable approximation of what Pérez can do for you: He’s undoubtedly not ok to be a playoff starter, however he’s nonetheless completely able to making 20 begins on the again finish of a playoff contender’s rotation. Will you be ecstatic in regards to the high quality of these innings? I imply, you would possibly! In 2022, he was chic, to the tune of a 2.89 ERA and peripherals to match, however that was the primary yr since 2015 the place he’d posted an ERA or FIP beneath 4.00. He reverted to his profession kind final yr, and we challenge his efficiency to say no barely extra with age in 2024.
So sure, we’re not speaking about Corbin Burnes or Gerrit Cole right here. My counterpoint? Who cares! The Pirates are desperately skinny within the beginning rotation, significantly after Johan Oviedo tore his UCL. Reinforcements may not be far off; Paul Skenes will possible debut this yr, and 6 of the crew’s prime 10 prospects are starters. However that’s all sooner or later; it’s a must to have a full rotation all yr lengthy, and loads of these prospects will both get damage or fail to appreciate their potential. Beginning the season with a reliable main league rotation in place is paramount, and Pérez is a giant a part of that.
The largest criticism of this deal I can muster is that I want the Pirates had finished a little bit extra. Pérez slots into the center of their rotation, in order that’s a giant enchancment – however they might have aimed only a large increased with out paying an enormous premium. Seth Lugo signed for $15 million a yr. Wacha signed for $16 million a yr. Each of these guys would fill the identical “we’d like a Skenes stopgap” position as Pérez, however their ceilings appear increased to me at this level of their respective careers.
Actually, although, they need to do each. Signing Pérez hasn’t turned their rotation right into a juggernaut; it hasn’t even made them common. We challenge their starters for the fifth-lowest WAR within the majors subsequent yr, and that’s with a smattering of innings from their phenoms. Bumping Bailey Falter from fifth starter to swingman would do so much to enhance that projection, and the identical goes for Marco Gonzales. Perhaps the Pirates have one other transfer coming. There are, in spite of everything, loads of free agent starters nonetheless obtainable.
I feel that’s unlikely, although. Pittsburgh’s wage is already roughly consistent with final yr’s iteration, which doesn’t depart them a ton of finances room so as to add somebody in that Wacha/Lugo tier. Greater than possible, they’ll add just a few speculative choices, maybe as non-roster invitees to spring coaching, to compete for a rotation spot. However one other good thing about signing Pérez is that he leaves your choices open. He’ll take up a spot for so long as he’s one of many crew’s finest 5 choices – given their depth chart, I feel that can most likely be all yr. But when he falls out of that prime 5? No drawback! He’s on a one-year deal, and he’s already accustomed to understanding of the bullpen as an extended man/lefty specialist when wanted.
I don’t wish to overstate both of those signings. They’re minor within the grand scheme of issues, little doubt. However I’ll say this: I feel that each of them make a ton of sense. Should you’re a Pirates fan, it’s unrealistic to count on your crew to begin spending meaningfully extra – whether or not it’s the suitable factor to do or not, it’s simply not going to occur. As a substitute, they’re going to function on a decent finances and prioritize inner choices when doable, solely supplementing them with free brokers the place obligatory. With that in thoughts, these signings are nice. They’re reasonably priced, they clearly fill a necessity, and so they give the crew at the very least a puncher’s likelihood in a weak division. They even convey again a franchise legend presently sitting on 299 residence runs. There’s so much to love right here.
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