Four potential upgrades to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen

In the month of July, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen holds a 1.64 ERA.  That mark is the best in the bigs.  The unit has been red hot lately turning a complete 180 from their abysmal month of June.  With that said, they could still use some extra help.  Almost every team’s bullpen could.

Felipe Rivero may just be the best closer in baseball.  Juan Nicasio has faltered as of late, but still has been solid all year long.  Tony Watson and Daniel Hudson seem to have turned a corner and are currently on the right track.  Wade Leblanc has been a decent long man.  Jhan Marinez has been okay in the mop up role.  AJ Schugel has been solid since his call up this month.  If there were to be an odd man out upon an upgrade to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen, I would guess it would be either Marinez or Schugel.  Here’s a short list of potential upgrades that could help the bullpen carry its current success through the end of the season.

Bud Norris

Norris currently serves as the Los Angeles Angels’ closer.  On the year, he has an ERA of 2.35 and FIP of 2.93.  He has struck out 49 batters and walked 15 in his 38.1 innings of work.  Like many former starting pitchers, Norris has found his calling working out of the pen.

Norris has kept hitters grounded as he posts a ground ball percentage of 48.3 percent.  He strikes out 11.5 batters per nine innings.  Norris would serve nicely as a setup option for Rivero.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have had interest in Norris in the past as a starting pitcher.  Perhaps they should rekindle that interest and acquire him as a reliever.

Brad Brach

Brach is a setup man with the Baltimore Orioles and many teams have inquired about his services.  This year, Brach has a 2.61 ERA and 3.40 FIP.  He has 45 strikeouts and 12 walks in 41.1 innings pitched.  Opponents are hitting just .204 against him this year.

With a fastball, slider, changeup combo, Brach is one of a handful of major league relief pitchers who offer a three pitch mix.  With a mid-90s fastball, Brach strikes out his fair share of batters posting a K/9 of 9.8.  If the Pittsburgh Pirates made a deal for him, he would slot nicely in the setup mix with Watson and Hudson.

Brad Hand

Currently with the San Diego Padres, this left-hander has been one of the best relievers in baseball this year.  With an ERA of 2.20 and FIP of 2.77, Hand is tough to crack as opponents hold just a .202 batting average against him.  He is especially tough on lefties as they hit .182 against him.

In 49 innings pitched, Hand has struck out 62 batters and walked 14.  He has a K/9 of 11.39.  Like Brach, Hand also has a three pitch mix.  With a low to mid-90s fastball, Hand mixes in both a slider and curveball.  Hand has two years left of control after the 2017 season.  If the Pirates are willing to part with some top prospects to bolster there bullpen for now and later, Hand would definitely be an intriguing option.  I doubt this would happen though as the Padres have set an outrageously high price.

Chad Kuhl

If the Pirates added a veteran starting pitcher top their rotation, Kuhl would be the one to move to the bullpen.  His stuff would play extremely well in that role.  As a starter, Kuhl has averaged a 95.3 mph fastball.  As a reliever, that number could easily hit 97 on average and he would routinely hit 98-100.  With his high velocity fastball and sharp, tight slider, Kuhl could easily work his way up to be the eighth inning man of the future.

As a guy who tends to show some emotion on the mound, Kuhl would be an intimidating late inning reliever.  That being said, Kuhl has had success as a starter as of late.  In four July starts, Kuhl has ERA of 2.49 with opponents hitting just .192 against him.