Pittsburgh Pirates Chirstmas Wish List: Starting Pitching

On the days leading up to Christmas Day, we examine some of the top items that will be on the Pittsburgh Pirates Christmas List this year. The first, and probably most important item is starting pitching help for a young rotation.

It is that time of year when we all start making out our lists to Santa Claus in hopes of getting everything we want. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of the 2020 - 2021 off-season and are looking to check off items on their Christmas List. As a young team looking to become competitive again, one of the top things on the Pirates list this season is some starting pitching to help guide their young arms. Heading into the 2021 season, the Pirates do not have a starting pitcher over the age of 30, and three of their four starters do not have a full season as a starting pitcher under their belt. They are looking for a veteran who can help the young guys along as they go through the trials and tribulations of a full season.

As of right now, Joe Musgrove is the only starting pitcher with playoff experience and has the most experience of any pitcher on the team. Jameson Taillon is second with just two full-seasons and a couple of partial seasons under his belt. After that, Steven Brault, Mitch Keller, and JT Brubaker all have yet to pitch in a full Major League season. Couple that with the fact that both Jameson Taillon and Joe Musgrove have been involved in trade rumors and you have the possibility of having five starting pitchers who have never pitched in a full Big League season. Because of that, the Pirates may be on the search for a veteran who could come in and help these young guys. However, in a market that is thin in an affordable free-agent starting pitching, the trade market may be the best way to add.

Free Agent Outlook

The free-agent starting pitching market has gotten a little bigger after the non-waiver deadline, but it is still considered rather thin. The Pirates aren't going to be in on the Trevor Bauers or Marcus Stromans of the market, but there are a couple of veteran starters who the Pirates could get at a cheap price. The Pirates aren't looking for length in these deals, just someone who is able to come in and help solidify the rotation for a few seasons, or serve as a long-man in the bullpen, while the team's young starters begin to develop into successful Major Leaguers. Guys like Steven Brault and JT Brubaker could greatly benefit from this and it could help them develop as the season goes on.

Looking at the next tier of veteran starting pitchers there are a couple of names that you will recognize who could be in the Pirates price range. One of the big names is former St. Louis Cardinal Adam Wainwright who is entering his age 39 season. At 39 years old, Wainwright still showed that he could throw going 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA over 10 starts. He is not the Adam Wainwright the Pirates are used to seeing, however, it is said that he is looking for a one-year contract. This could give the Pirates a chance to add a big name arm for a not so big price tag. Another big-name free agent the Pirates could be in on is Felix Hernandez. The king sat out the 2020 season and is looking for a team to bounce back with at 34 years old. He went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in 15 starts in 2019 and is looking to show that he still has some left in the tank. A one-year deal could help Hernandez get back on track and the Pirates solidify a young starting rotation.

However, the Pirates could also go the international route and take a shot at free-agent starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano is 31-years-old and has been dominating the Japanese Baseball league. In 2020, he appeared in 20 games and went 14-2 with an impressive 1.97 ERA. It was the third time in his eight-year career that he posted a sub-two ERA, and he has never had an ERA higher than 3.89 in a full season. The Pirates took a chance on the international market a few years ago when they signed Jung Ho Kang to a four-year 20 million dollar deal. That deal went down the toilet, but Sugano would garner a similar contract, which is well in the Pirate's price range. Sugano might be a big question mark, but he could be a risk that the Pirates could be willing to take.

Trade Market

If the Pirates decide that the free market is too much out of their price range, the next route to go would be the trade market. The Pirates have some veteran pieces that they want to move this off-season and it could help bring them back a quality starter to add to their rotation. A blockbuster deal could package several Pirates veterans while bringing back Minor League talent for the future and Major League talent to help now. Looking at some of the teams looking to make moves around the league, there are some intriguing names that the Pirates might be able to get on the trade market with some of their pieces.

Two of the Pirate's biggest needs for the Minor Leagues are pitching depth and catching depth. One organization that has a plethora of both is the Philadelphia Phillies, with seven of their top 10 prospects being either pitchers or catchers. A cross-state trade could help both teams as the Phillies look to compete in the very competitive National League East Division.  One intriguing veteran they have is Zach Wheeler, who is currently in year two of a five-year contract. Wheeler would be a more long-term option for the Pirates, but he has put up solid numbers in his first three seasons in the Big Leagues. Last season, he went 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA over 73 innings of work with the Phils. The Pirates have the pieces to swing a trade for a guy like Wheeler, but he would have to come back with the right haul of prospects to fit the Pirate's needs.

No matter which way the Pirates decide to go, they will surely be looking to add to their starting rotation. While having a plethora of young guys is a good thing for a low-budget team, the Pirates are looking for someone who can lead the young guys and show them what needs to be done to succeed. It doesn't have to come from a high-priced free agent and can be as simple as adding a guy on a one-year contract. With the Pirates looking to compete by 2022 or 2023, a veteran can come in and get the team on the right track heading into the future. Success begins with starting pitching and that's what the Pirates are looking for in 2021.

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