Pirates Signal Jake Woodford to Minor League Deal

The Pirates have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent righty Jake Woodford, MLBTR has confirmed. Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com first reported that Woodford was anticipated to signal with the Bucs. The Excel Sports activities consumer is headed to Triple-A Indianapolis in the interim however might work his manner into the combo for a long-relief or fifth starter position with the Bucs.

Woodford opened the season with the 2024 season with the White Sox group after signing a minor league deal again in January. He’d spent his whole profession previous to that time with the Cardinals, who chosen him with the No. 39 total decide within the 2019 draft. The appropriate-hander made a pair of begins in a skinny ChiSox rotation however served up ten runs on 15 hits and 5 walks in 8 1/3 innings. He fanned seven of his 46 opponents (15.2%). Chicago designated him for task final week, and he elected free company over the weekend after clearing waivers.

That transient White Sox run marked a fifth straight season with some main league work for Woodford. He’s totaled 193 frames between the Playing cards and Sox, working to a mixed 4.57 ERA with a 15.1% strikeout charge, an 8.2% stroll charge, a 46.1% ground-ball charge and 1.31 homers per 9 innings pitched. Woodford doesn’t miss many bats however has usually posted above-average ground-ball marks whereas exhibiting common command. He’ll rely totally on a sinker that sits simply shy of 92 mph, pairing that with a slider as his major secondary providing. He labored in a cutter much more ceaselessly than up to now throughout his transient Chicago stint this season.

Woodford is stretched out to start out, giving the Pirates some further depth within the rotation. He’s spent components of six seasons in Triple-A, posting  4.19 ERA with a 19.5% strikeout charge and 10.2% stroll charge. He’s out of minor league choices, so if the Pirates choose him to the MLB roster, he’ll want to stay or else be once more designated for task and uncovered to waivers earlier than he could possibly be despatched down. Even when he have been to go unclaimed on waivers, he’d have the choice to elect free company slightly than settle for an outright task.

The Pirates’ rotation at present features a pair of electrical rookies — 2023 No. 1 total decide Paul Skenes and fellow prime prospect Jared Jones — along with stalwart right-hander Mitch Keller. Coming into the season, veteran lefties Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales have been anticipated to carry down rotation spots behind Keller and Jones, however Perez landed on the injured checklist because of a groin pressure late final month whereas Gonzales made solely three begins earlier than incurring a forearm pressure that’s sidelined him for almost two months now. Younger righty Quinn Priester joined them on the injured checklist earlier this month because of a lat pressure.

In the mean time, the Bucs have southpaw Bailey Falter as their fourth starter behind Skenes, Jones and Keller. He’s made a dozen begins with a 3.69 ERA however far shakier marks from metrics like FIP (4.75) and SIERA (4.79). Pittsburgh has former second-round decide Braxton Ashcraft and waiver pickup Daulton Jefferies on the 40-man roster as rotation choices who could possibly be forward of Woodford on the depth chart. Different non-roster veterans in Indianapolis embrace Josh Fleming, Domingo German and Michael Plassmeyer, although nobody from that trio has pitched nicely in Triple-A this yr. Woodford provides some insurance coverage within the occasion of additional accidents and/or some depth within the occasion that the group opts for some type of innings cap on Skenes and Jones down the stretch.