Pirates roster breakdown with an eye toward the offseason and 2023: Pitchers

The Pirates pitching staff again ranked among the bottom third in the majors. Manager Derek Shelton sees some reasons for optimism behind the dismal numbers. He has three solid starters (Roansy Contreras, Mitch Keller, JT Brubaker and David Bednar) and a dominant back-end reliever (David Bednars).

Manny Bañuelos played for five big-league organizations and clubs in Mexico and Taiwan. He played 31 games in 2022, with a 4.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9.37 K/9 and 0.2 fWAR.

Pitchers are not eligible for salary arbitration until 2023.

Bañuelos is 32 and has a lot of mileage on his arm. The Pirates should look elsewhere for left-handed bullpen help.

Jeremy Beasley was acquired from the Blue Jays for cash at the trade deadline and sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Beasell made one appearance for Indy before going on the seven-day injury suspension and he missed the rest of the season.

Beasley is 27 and unproven. He's a middle relief pitcher.

David Bednar played 45 games on the IL in 22nd season. He had a 2.61 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 12.02 K/9 and 1,5 fWAR.

Bednar is 28 and will be a back end of the bullpen in 2023. Shelton won't say if Bednar will pitch in high-leverage situations.

2022: 28 starts, 4.69 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.19 K/9, and 1,9 fWAR. JT Brubaker threw 20 more innings than in 2021. He cut his home runs allowed from 28 to 17 and shaved more than a half-point off his ERA.

Pitchers are arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons.

Pirates roster breakdown with an eye toward the offseason and 2023: Pitchers. 20th Opening Day age: 29.

Blake Cederlind had Tommy John surgery in March 2021. He is throwing without issues and is expected to go into spring training able to pitch without restrictions.

Cederlind is 27 and has a 100 mph fastball. He wants to switch to a starter role in 2023.

Roansy Contreras played 21 games in 2022. He had some arm issues in 2021, but he was limited in the final two months of 2022 and he ended the season healthy.

Contreras will help anchor the Pirates rotation for the next several years. He's still learning his way around the majors. Contrerais is 23 years old.

Wil Crowe played 60 games in 22nd season. He ranked third among National League relievers with 74 innings pitched and 12th with 16 holds. Crow ended the season on the IL with a mild case of elbow inflammation.

Pirates roster breakdown with an eye toward the offseason and 2023: Pitchers. 20th Opening Day age: 28.

Chase De Jong played in the Constellation Energy League two years ago. He was fourth on the Pirates with 42 outings this year. Dejong ranked 18th among qualified NL relievers in ERA.

De Jong is 29 and gets by mostly on guile.

Yerry De Los Santos was put on the 60-day injured list in mid-August. He played in 26 games in 2022 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 9.12 K/9 and 0.1 fWAR.

The Pirates roster breakdown with an eye toward the offseason and 2023: Pitchers.

Junior Fernández played in 3 games in 2022 and had a bad record. He was never a strikeout pitcher in the minors, but he did have good ground-ball rates.

Fernández is 26 and out of minor league options next season. The Pirates will decide next spring whether to break camp with Fernánda or try to sneak him through waivers.

Colin Holderman played in 9 games in 2022 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 5.06 K/9 and minus-0.1 fWAR. He was traded to the Pirates for Daniel Vogelbach in July. Holder's season was cut short in late August by a sore right shoulder.

Mitch Keller had a positive year. He made an adjustment to his pitch mix and his demeanor.

Keller has improved his pitch mechanics and confidence. He needs to produce another solid season to cement his spot at the front of the rotation.

Max Kranick had Tommy John surgery in June. He made two starts in 22 with a 0.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 and 0 fWAR.

Kranick will begin a throwing program soon. It's too soon to say when he might return to the mound.

Nick Mears had 23 games with Indy before being recalled on October 3. He had 2 games, 0.00 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 and 0 fWAR.

Mears is on the DFA watchlist. He has played 167 innings since turning pro in 2019.

Luis Ortiz was a surprise addition to the Pirates' rotation down the stretch. He had a good start against the Yankees on Sept. 20, but a bad one against Cardinals on Oct. 1.

Ortiz made only two starts at Indy before being promoted to Pittsburgh. He's not eligible for salary arbitration until 23rd year.

Johan Oviedo was sent to Indy to be stretched out as a starter. He had 7 starts in 22 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.22 K/9 and 0.6 fWAR. His 12 percent walk rate is a red flag.

Pirates roster breakdown with an eye toward the offseason and 2023: Pitchers. 20th Opening Day age: 25.

Yohan Ramirez played 22 games in 22 seasons. He had a 3.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 7.00 K/9 and 0.1 fWAR. His strikeout rate didn't rebound by much and his 4.3 BB/ 9 rate is concerning.

Ramirez is a middle reliever with average stuff. He is destined for the “DFA” watch list.

Peter Solomon spent the entire season at the Triple-A level with Indy. He made four appearances (three starts) and posted an 8.53 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.

Solomon was the Astros' No. 19 prospect when they acquired him from the Pirates. He's three years removed from Tommy John surgery and has the makings of a decent five-pitch mix.

Robert Stephenson was released by the Rockies in August. He played for the Pirates in 22 games, with a 3.38 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 12.15 K/9 and 0 fWAR.

Stephenson is 30 and has had problems with his swing-and-miss stuff with the Rockies. The Pirates are tight-fisted and might not be willing to bet nearly $2 million on him.

Eric Stout was acquired from the Cubs for cash in June. Stout played 18 games in 2022, with a 5.79 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 9.16 K/9 and minus-0.1 fWAR. He spent the last two weeks of the season on the IL due to lower-back discomfort.

Zach Thompson played in 29 games in 22 starts this year. He had good splits between starters and relievers. Thompson is probably going to be a bullpen arm or a swingman in the future.

Thompson is 29 and has a season-long process to shape the Pirates' bullpen. Thompson could make the Opening Day roster with a tenuous hold on a 40-man spot.

Duane Underwood Jr. made a career-high 51 appearances, including a one-inning start in a doubleheader last month. He also notched his first career save and collected 10 holds. Underwoods rarely pitches a clean 1-2-3 inning.

The Pirates are interested in keeping Underwood around.

Bryse Wilson played in 25 games this year, starting 20 of them. He couldn't hold a rotation spot and went through several different teams. Management is being patient with him. His splitter is improving.

Wilson is 25 and out of minor-league options in 2023. Next season is make-or-break time for Wilson. If Wilson does not make progress, he will be a non-tender candidate after the 20th season.

Miguel Yajure has struggled in the majors over the past three seasons. He's not a good prospect in his current level.

2023 Opening Day age is 24. He won't be arbitration-eligible until 2025. His spot on the 40-man roster is in danger.