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 workforce supply tells Justin Guerriero of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Overview that the Bucs wish to do the identical this time round. Stratton suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in late August after a freak harm 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 another workforce 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 price and glorious soft-contact numbers.
Extra notes on another gamers on the open market….
Chris Martin has instructed that 2025 will nearly definitely be the ultimate season of his profession, and MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam believes Martin “doubtless seeking to pitch nearer to his Texas house.” The 38-year-old Martin has spoken about his want to spend extra time along with his rising household, so this might issue extra into his decision-making course of than essentially chasing the most important affords accessible. Martin was born in Arlington and already pitched along with his hometown Rangers in the course of 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 a number of consideration from groups all around the map, as he posted a 3.45 ERA and an elite 1.7% stroll price 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 anyplace as he weighs whether or not or to not return for a twenty first Main League season. Hill lives within the larger Boston space and he pitched for the Crimson Sox in 2024, although the locale didn’t instantly issue into Hill’s choice to hitch the Sox for the fourth completely different time in his profession. Hill’s want to teach his son’s Little League workforce did influence his technique of ready till the second half of the 2024 season to signal, as he solely landed a minors cope with 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 price, and 6.04% stroll price 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, principally 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 onerous 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 workforce is perhaps within the playing cards if De Jesus strictly needed to start out, or he may very well be open to quite a lot of roles if he’s pursuing a path again to North American baseball.
