The Pittsburgh Pirates could still use another left-handed arm in their bullpen. Could Matt Thornton be a viable option?
As NBC Sports Hardball Talk points out, there are still some quality bullpen arms to be had.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who could still benefit from one more left-handed reliever for 2016, might want to take a look at veteran Matt Thornton.
Thonrton, most recently of the Washington Nationals, is long in the tooth but can still sling it. The 38-year old had a remarkable average fastball velocity of 94.15 mph last year.
There’s a lot more to like in Thornton even considering his advanced age. His 0.44 HR/9 innings shows that he can still keep the ball in the park. His cut fastball, which averages just under 92 mph, has good biting action. His curve ball and sinking fastball both have ground ball rates above 55 percent. Though his days as a strikeout artist may be behind him, he still has decent control, allowing just 11 walks over 60 total appearances last season.
The real value in Thornton comes against left-handed hitters, as his 2015 splits below illustrates:
| Split | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs RHB | 83 | 70 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 1.20 | .229 | .333 | .357 |
| vs LHB | 88 | 86 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11.00 | .198 | .205 | .279 |
With PNC Park’s expansive left field, left-handed hitters have an edge. With a shorter porch in right, left-handed pull hitters can do some serious damage.
Thornton’s dominance against these hitters would make him a very attractive option in match-up situations. As per the NBC Sports report, Thornton is “waiting for a team to show serious interest,” indicating that his current market value may be lower than previously thought.
His last contract was a one-year deal for $3.5 million. The Pirates, who have sunk $20 million into the bullpen between acquisitions and arbitration settlements already this off-season, would likely not be interested at that rate. It would be easy to see Thonrton in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform at a cheaper rate on a one-year deal, possibly incentivized.
The Pirates may want to give Thornton a hard look, as the only left-handed reliever on the roster behind eighth-inning stalwart Tony Watson remains Kyle Lobstein, who carries over a 5.33 ERA across just 20 major league appearances in 2015.
Photo credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images
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