Free Agent Friday: RHP Jake Odorizzi
We are just 10 days away from Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training, and there is still one Major hole on this team. The starting rotation is almost completely void of veteran leadership, something this young group needs. Out of the possible starters this year, Chad Kuhl is the only one who has pitched through a full season and he is just a year removed from Tommy John surgery. With many of the Pirate's top pitching prospects still over a year away, the team is looking for someone to come in and eat innings when needed. This person would also help mentor the young pitchers for the first half of the season, and more than likely be flipped for prospects at the trade deadline.
One option still available on the market is just one year removed from an American League All-Star game nod and is looking to bounce back for 2021. Jake Odorizzi has been on the Pirate's radar since the mid-2010s, and at 31-years-old he is looking for a chance to show that he still has it in the Big Leagues. Last season, he pitched for the Minnesota Twins on year two of a two-year contract and took a step backward. He went 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA and made just four starts for the Twins and misses most of the year with injuries. He suffered there separate injuries, a Right Intercoatal Strain, a Chest Contussion, and a blister that forced him to miss time. He is looking to show that he is back and healthy, and can get back on the mound and contribute for a winning team.
From All-Star to Injured Star
When the Minnesota Twins signed Jake Odorizzi before the 2019 season, they were expecting a leader in their rotation. That is just what they got in 2019 as Odorizzi went 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA and earned the first All-Star Game appearance of his career. He was all set to lead a growing Twins team once again, but injuries had other ideas. He started the year on the Injured List with his Right Intercostal strain and missed the first two weeks of the already delayed season. He made his first start of the year on August 8th, 2020, and because of the injury, he had to ease himself back into the rotation. He lasted just three innings in that first start allowing two earned runs while walking two and striking out two.
He followed that up with a similar outing on August 15th, this time lasting four innings while giving up two earned runs. As the results were getting better, the Twins were ready to stretch Odorizzi out. That is until he entered his start on August 21st against the Kansas City Royals. Things weren't going well for Odorizzi as he gave up four earned runs in the first inning, and then got hit by a line drive back to the mound. He would leave the game with a chest contusion and found himself back on the injured list. He missed nearly a month of the shortened season and came back to action on September 16th, 2020 against the Chicago White Sox.
He would last 3.2 innings against the White Sox and gave up a run on two hits while walking one and striking out three. However, that would be his final start of the year as he made his third trip to the Injured List, this time with a blister on his finger. He did not pitch in the 2020 postseason with the Twins and headed to free agency for the first time in his career after the season. As the calendar moves to February, Odorizzi is left still looking for a place to play in 2021. At 31-years-old, Odorizzi is looking for a place where he can bring home a championship. Even if he signs with a non-competitive team now, he could be flipped to a team in need during the Trade Deadline.
Odorizzi in the Burgh
Being that it is already February, it is crunch time for some of these veteran players to find a team to play on. That means they could come at a cheaper price, bringing a team like the Pirates into the mix. Odorizzi should not be defined by his 2020 season, as he made just four starts and it was a season full of injury. While he probably won't duplicate his 2019 numbers, it is possible that he bounces back and becomes a good top of the rotation piece. However, he needs a team to show that he can be that and with the Pirates, he would get that opportunity. If he signed with the Pirates, he would make an immediate case to be the team's number one starter and would get to face some NL Central clubs who aren't projected to be that strong this season.
The promise of being a number one guy could be enough to entice Odorizzi to Pittsburgh. Then, if he performs well, Ben Cherington could end up flipping Odorizzi for prospects at the Trade Deadline. This would allow him the chance to show teams he is fully healthy in 2021, and then get a chance to be on one of those teams down the stretch. He started his career with the small-market Tampa Bay Rays and has a career ERA of 3.92. He still showed last season that he can strikeout batters at a high rate, with 12 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work, and he walked just three batters during the season.
The big question with the Pirates and signing free agents always comes down to the money aspect. Coming off a down year, and being this late in the off-season, the Pirates could probably get a guy like Odorizzi for around 2-3 million dollars on a one-year deal. And, they would only have to pay half that salary if they are able to flip him at the July 31st trade deadline. This seems like a very attainable move and the projected rotation looks a little better. If the Pirates were to sign Odorizzi, their projected rotation would be Odorizzi, Kuhl, Keller, Brault, and Brubaker. I am personally a big fan of Odorizzi's and think he would do well in Pittsburgh both for the now and for the future of this Pirates team.
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