The Pirates have non-tendered Hunter Stratton in every of the final two offseasons, and after re-signing him to a minor league contract final winter, a group supply tells Justin Guerriero of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Evaluation that the Bucs need to do the identical this time round. Stratton suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in late August after a freak damage that noticed the right-hander stumble into the stone wall behind house plate at PNC Park whereas pursuing a free ball.
A subsequent knee surgical procedure ended Stratton’s season, and he was given a restoration timeline of 7-10 months. Within the very best-case situation, Stratton would be capable to return on Opening Day, however the longer finish of that timeline would maintain him out till the top of June. A clearer return date may emerge as soon as Stratton will get deeper into his rehab, which additionally may influence when the Pirates or every other group may ink him to a brand new contract. Stratton has a 3.26 ERA over 49 2/3 profession bullpen innings over the past two seasons with Pittsburgh, with a formidable 4.9% stroll charge and glorious soft-contact numbers.
Extra notes on another gamers on the open market….
- Chris Martin has recommended that 2025 will virtually actually be the ultimate season of his profession, and MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam believes Martin “doubtless trying to pitch nearer to his Texas house.” The 38-year-old Martin has spoken about his need to spend extra time together with his rising household, so this might issue extra into his decision-making course of than essentially chasing the most important presents obtainable. Martin was born in Arlington and already pitched together with his hometown Rangers throughout the 2017-18 seasons, and naturally the Astros would even be a logical vacation spot if geography is Martin’s chief concern. Martin figures to attract loads of consideration from groups everywhere in the map, as he posted a 3.45 ERA and an elite 1.7% stroll charge in 44 1/3 innings for the Crimson Sox in 2024.
- Talking of pitching near house, Wealthy Hill informed MLB Community’s Jon Morosi (X hyperlink) that he’s open to pitching wherever as he weighs whether or not or to not return for a twenty first Main League season. Hill lives within the higher Boston space and he pitched for the Crimson Sox in 2024, although the locale didn’t straight issue into Hill’s determination to hitch the Sox for the fourth totally different time in his profession. Hill’s need to educate his son’s Little League group did influence his technique of ready till the second half of the 2024 season to signal, as he solely landed a minors take care of the Sox in August. When discussing his future plans earlier this month, Hill hinted that he would doubtless pursue a full-season schedule this time, although he hadn’t but determined if he was going to pitch into his age-45 marketing campaign.
- Additionally from Morosi in one other X entry, left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus is drawing curiosity from two unnamed Main League groups. De Jesus posted a 3.68 ERA, 24.45% strikeout charge, and 6.04% stroll charge over 171 1/3 innings with the KBO League’s Kiwoom Heroes in 2024, however the Heroes gained’t offer him a brand new contract for the approaching KBO season. The southpaw has a 4.01 ERA throughout 749 1/3 profession innings and 9 seasons within the affiliated minors, largely with the Crimson Sox earlier than pitching within the Giants group in 2022 and the Marlins group in 2023. De Jesus’ solely MLB expertise got here with Miami throughout that 2023 season, as he pitched 6 1/3 innings over two appearances and was hit arduous for an 11.57 ERA. Whereas De Jesus labored extra as a swingman in 2021-22, he has largely pitched as a starter all through his profession, together with beginning all 30 of his video games with the Heroes. A return to the KBO League with one other group could be within the playing cards if De Jesus strictly wished to start out, or he might be open to a wide range of roles if he’s pursuing a path again to North American baseball.
