Pittsburgh Pirates Likely To Search For Another Francisco Liriano, Edinson Volquez In 2015

By Andrew Lenz on October 13, 2014

Each of the past two seasons, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed a pitcher other MLB teams would not have touched with a 10-foot pole. Not only that, but Pittsburgh signed each of those pitchers for multiple millions of dollars. While it looked like the Pirates were wasting their money, these two pitchers helped lead the team to the NL Wild Card game each of the past two seasons. Not only did each pitcher play a major role in the regular season, but they both started the Wild Card game in the same year that they joined the Pirates organization. These pitchers were Francisco Liriano (signed in 2013) and Edinson Volquez (signed in 2014), both of whom are free agents once the offseason officially begins.

After reading that sentence, Pirates fans might feel their collective collars tightening. How can this team survive losing two starting pitchers who helped bolster a rotation that led Pittsburgh to the playoffs for two consecutive years after a 20-year drought? What will happen when the Pirates are inevitably outbid by larger market teams to re-sign Liriano and Volquez? Before full blown panic sets in, take a deep breath because the Pirates have a plethora of young pitching talent that might be ready for big league experience at some point next season.

There are currently three pitchers in the Pirates minor league system who will see playing time at some point in the 2015 season, not to mention the four pitchers already in the majors who have seen significant starting time. With seven players vying for five starting positions, the Pirates have a wealth of young talent and can take a wait-and-see approach with Liriano and Volquez.

This season the Pirates had six pitchers throw for over 100 innings. Four of those players are still under contract: Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole, Jeff Locke and Vance Worley. The veteran of this staff is Morton, who is still only 30 years old. He was putting together an average statistical season before being shut down with a hip injury. Cole will be the ace of this young staff and has already proven that he is capable of holding that role through the early stages of his career. Many fans were irate when manager Clint Hurdle chose to start Volquez over Cole in this season’s NL Wild Card game, but the fact that he wanted to save Cole for the opening game of the NLDS speaks volumes about the faith placed in him. The two question marks are Locke and Worley, who showed flashes of brilliance this year but had their share of struggles once teams figured out their pitches. Pittsburgh has to hope that one of their minor leaguers is ready to step up this season to fill out the rotation.

The minor league pitchers who could fill that role include Jameson Taillon, Nick Kingham and Tyler Glasnow who, along with Cole, will create a daunting rotation a few years down the road. It was thought by the majority of Pirates fans that Taillon was going to see his first major league experience this season. Unfortunately for the Pirates and for Taillon, he suffered a torn UCL and had to undergo Tommy John surgery in April. Pirates faithful are hoping that when he recovers, Taillon will be primed to make his big league debut, joining Cole at the top of the rotation. Kingham and Glasnow have been working their way through the minor leagues since they were both 18 years old. Odds are that these two players wind up in Double-A or Triple-A to start the season, but a strong showing during spring training from either guy could change that assignment.

This offseason is going to see the Pirates making a lot of changes, most of which will be money related. A lot of the players who are free agents may have played their way out of Pittsburgh’s salary capabilities. The Pirates could still offer a contract to Liriano, Volquez or both, but looking at the prospects waiting in the wings it becomes difficult to see that happening. The best bet for the Pirates is to take a flier on another scrap-heap pitcher and turn him into the Liriano or Volquez of the 2015 season until the minor league players are ready.

Andrew Lenz is a Blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RealAndyLenz, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google