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J.A. Happ, rotation needs and fun with phraseology

By Bill Brink 8 years ago

Late Friday night, I sent out a tweet that included some variation of the phrase “Pirates still looking for a fifth starter.” This was after the Blue Jays announced that they signed J.A. Happ, who boosted his value through two months with the Pirates and whom the Pirates wanted to re-sign, to a three-year, $36 million contract

Among other things Twitter is good for, it gives you immediate feedback from readers on what you tweet or write. Many people responded with some variation of the following: The Pirates need a No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 starter, because it’s anyones’ guess after Gerrit Cole and Francisco LirianoCharlie Morton and Jeff Locke can’t be trusted, Happ is better than a No. 5, etc., etc.

I’m glad people responded this way because I think it helps illustrate where the Pirates are in their search for rotation help. I did not mean that Happ would be a fifth starter; he showed he was better than that. But he would have been the fifth starter in the Pirates’ rotation because right now, they literally don’t have one.

Here are the pitchers on the Pirates’ 40-man roster: 

Arquimedes Caminero 

Gerrit Cole 

Tyler Glasnow 

John Holdzkom 

Jared Hughes

Nick Kingham

Guido Knudson 

Bobby LaFromboise

Francisco Liriano 

Jeff Locke 

Mark Melancon 

Charlie Morton 

Jorge Rondon 

Rob Scahill 

Jameson Taillon 

Tony Watson 

Allen Webster

Cole and Liriano are rotation locks. Morton is under contract for $8 million and figures to be in the rotation as well. Locke is arbitration eligible for the first time and a possible non-tender candidate, though healthy young left-handed starters don’t grow on trees, regardless of the inconsistency he has displayed. After that? Who knows. Taillon and Glasnow won’t start the season in the majors. The Pirates’ coaches haven’t even gotten their hands on Webster, who was traded over on Wednesday, to see what they’re working with. Casey Sadler, Nick Kingham, Angel Sanchez and Brandon Cumpton all have had shoulder and/or elbow surgery. Adrian Sampson is in Seattle, having served as the return for Happ. They don’t have five starters.

There’s time. This will be more of an issue on Feb. 28 than on Nov. 28. The winter meetings are still ahead of us, and David Price, Johnny Cueto and Zack Greinke remain unsigned. Those three will help open the floodgates on the free-agent market for the rest of the pitchers, as well as the trade market. 

Three years and $36 million is a nice haul for Happ after he pitched 11 strong outings in Pittsburgh, rebounding from a sub-par first half in Seattle. The Pirates probably could have afforded that if they so chose, but might not have wanted to pay a 35-year-old pitcher $12 million or more in the final year of his contract. Happ also has more familiarity with Toronto, where he played from 2012-14, than Pittsburgh. There are still plenty of pitchers available for the Pirates -- Mike Leake, who isn’t tied to a qualifying offer; Doug Fister, who could try to rebuild his value -- and plenty of time to find them. Sorting out their payroll situation with Mark Melancon, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker will give them more clarity as well.