2013 Player by Player Analysis: Starting Pitchers
Posted 12-20-2013 at 08:44 PM by JoeyMac
RHP Brandon McCarthy Acquired in a mid-season trade from the Dbacks, McCarthy finished the year 14-13 with a 4.16 ERA in 209.2 IP between the two clubs. We know Brandon can be a serious veteran innings eater but he has a 9 mil. dollar price tag for 2014 and he may be moved if someone would be looking to take on most of that salary.
RHP James McDonald Second on the staff with 32 starts, McDonald had a 9-13 record with a 4.24 ERA in 189 IP. James didn't reach 200 innings in spite of starting 32 games which tells me he's not going very far into games. We will make an arbitration offer and hope we can get him cheap with the numbers he put up last year. I see some upside here but we have some young pitchers that he will be competing with for a starting spot in spring training.
LHP Wandy Rodriguez Steady as she goes for Wandy as he posted a 12-11 record with a 3.86 ERA in 193.1 IP. He picked up his $13 mil. player option for 2013 and will be a veteran anchor in our staff and a good stop gap while our young pitchers continue to develop.
RHP AJ Burnett The production fell off quite a bit from last year's stellar season. AJ went 9-10 with a 4.14 ERA in 178.1 IP as he experienced some arm trouble. At age 36 it looks like Burnetts best days could be behind him. I would like to offer AJ arbitration. If he accepts well take our chances on him for another year. If not well receive a compensatory draft pick, but we need to free up some payroll first.
LHP Francisco Liriano We picked up Liriano's 2014 option and were happy to do so. He went 7-6 with a 2.85 ERA in 126.1 IP. If he can stay healthy and spread that out over a full season Pittsburgh could be seeing its first true ace in a long time.
RHP Charlie Morton He did not fare well last year going 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 71.1 IP and 16 GS. Charlie made $2 Mil. last year and is due to make a raise through arbitration. I'm feeling like well have to non-tender Morton. Our budget constraints just won't let us take a chance on a 29 year old who has yet to prove himself as a major league pitcher.
LHP Jeff Locke Fared well in a late season call-up going 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 3 starts. In 5 appearances he totaled 16 IP and posted a 1.19 WHIP. Locke has a very affordable contract and we feel that at age 26 he is showing signs of becoming the solid major league pitcher that the scouts projected him to be.
LHP Jonathon Sanchez Posted a 3-1 record with a 2.97 ERA in 16 appearances (3 GS). Sanchez had a good showing last year when he could stay healthy but he will be a free agent and again our budget will not allow us to offer him any kind of a raise from the $1.3 mil. he made last year.
LHP Justin Wilson Really impressed in a September call up posting a 3-1 record and a 0.70 ERA in 5 appearances (3 GS). Wilson also has an affordable contract and we are hoping he can win a spot in a spring training audition.
RHP Vin Mazzaro Didn't show us much In 6 appearances (2 GS) posting a 7.82 ERA and an 0-2 record. He could have a chance to compete for a spot in spring training though.
RHP James McDonald Second on the staff with 32 starts, McDonald had a 9-13 record with a 4.24 ERA in 189 IP. James didn't reach 200 innings in spite of starting 32 games which tells me he's not going very far into games. We will make an arbitration offer and hope we can get him cheap with the numbers he put up last year. I see some upside here but we have some young pitchers that he will be competing with for a starting spot in spring training.
LHP Wandy Rodriguez Steady as she goes for Wandy as he posted a 12-11 record with a 3.86 ERA in 193.1 IP. He picked up his $13 mil. player option for 2013 and will be a veteran anchor in our staff and a good stop gap while our young pitchers continue to develop.
RHP AJ Burnett The production fell off quite a bit from last year's stellar season. AJ went 9-10 with a 4.14 ERA in 178.1 IP as he experienced some arm trouble. At age 36 it looks like Burnetts best days could be behind him. I would like to offer AJ arbitration. If he accepts well take our chances on him for another year. If not well receive a compensatory draft pick, but we need to free up some payroll first.
LHP Francisco Liriano We picked up Liriano's 2014 option and were happy to do so. He went 7-6 with a 2.85 ERA in 126.1 IP. If he can stay healthy and spread that out over a full season Pittsburgh could be seeing its first true ace in a long time.
RHP Charlie Morton He did not fare well last year going 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 71.1 IP and 16 GS. Charlie made $2 Mil. last year and is due to make a raise through arbitration. I'm feeling like well have to non-tender Morton. Our budget constraints just won't let us take a chance on a 29 year old who has yet to prove himself as a major league pitcher.
LHP Jeff Locke Fared well in a late season call-up going 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 3 starts. In 5 appearances he totaled 16 IP and posted a 1.19 WHIP. Locke has a very affordable contract and we feel that at age 26 he is showing signs of becoming the solid major league pitcher that the scouts projected him to be.
LHP Jonathon Sanchez Posted a 3-1 record with a 2.97 ERA in 16 appearances (3 GS). Sanchez had a good showing last year when he could stay healthy but he will be a free agent and again our budget will not allow us to offer him any kind of a raise from the $1.3 mil. he made last year.
LHP Justin Wilson Really impressed in a September call up posting a 3-1 record and a 0.70 ERA in 5 appearances (3 GS). Wilson also has an affordable contract and we are hoping he can win a spot in a spring training audition.
RHP Vin Mazzaro Didn't show us much In 6 appearances (2 GS) posting a 7.82 ERA and an 0-2 record. He could have a chance to compete for a spot in spring training though.
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