The Pirates have a minor-league deal with southpaw Derek Holland, per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic (via Twitter). Holland had hinted at the signing on social media.
Financial details aren’t known. But Holland will compete in camp for a spot on the MLB roster and gets a chance to opt out if he isn’t added for the start of the season.
The division-rival Cubs had declined an option over Holland at season’s end. It was a rough overall campaign — whether working from the rotation or in relief, and both before and after the Giants traded him to Chicago. Holland ended the year with 84 1/3 innings of 6.08 ERA ball. That’s now the second time in three campaigns that Holland has allowed more than six earned per nine.
For both Holland and the Bucs, the idea will be to help him rediscover the form he showed in a successful 2018 season. He worked to a 3.87 ERA in 171 1/3 frames that year, carrying 8.9 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9.
It remains to be seen what sort of role Holland will occupy. Even if he’s given a chance to compete for a rotation spot in camp, he may end up being tasked with entering from the pen. Notably, Holland posted extreme platoon splits last year (.997 OPS for right-handed hitters vs. .528 OPS for left-handed hitters).
First and foremost, Holland will need to nail down an approach. He continued the ramped-up slider usage he utilized in 2018, then made a drastic mid-season fastball swap (from his four-seamer to his sinker). That did coincide with improved results for most of Holland’s time with the Cubs, but his numbers were irreparably marred when he coughed up seven earned in just two frames in his last appearance of the season.
Good move….8 years ago.
and good move now
it’s a minor deal for someone that could be a top 20 reliever
Lol, top 20 reliever? You know it’s derek Holland, not Greg right?
Wow, his numbers are not good.
What a joke. But Pirates, so expected.
“Clear the DECK!!!….110 losses comin’!!!!”
Ok that made me chuckle
With a top 3 draft pick in 2021.
I mean dude was solid albeit unspectacular in 2018. Could end up being a decent pick up.
As a Cubs fan it’s wont be a surprise pick up.
The difference maker. Pirates fans must be thrilled.
I was seriously hoping he could come back to Texas this year to try and have a fresh start with the rangers. He just needs some help somewhere. I also think he would’ve been good for the rays as a LR guy. Maybe switch to the bullpen is what he needs… idk, but I want to see him pitch well again.
My classmates son always comes back to his hometown for a clinic in the winter good luck Derek
Holland tunneled out of Chicago but he’s going to get jammed up in Pittsburgh.
Far from a sure thing, but worth checking out. Much better on the intangibles than the Pirates’ two most recent late-inning stalwarts… Holland to my knowledge has never punched a teammate (or worse).
I leave near Pittsburgh it’s so hard to watch them play
I live in Pittsburgh and it’s so hard to watch, well almost anything having to do with this team. They have some fine young players, Reynolds, Bell, Newman, Tallion (when healthy), Musgrove can be solid, a couple young prospects like Keller, Kramer, and Tucker. But otherwise? It’s a joke show.
Even in 2018 when they had that 13 game winning streak I mentioned it to a grandfather of a kid my son played hockey with, his response? “They’ll screw it up’. Pittsburgh is confident in the Penguins, cautiously optimistic with the Steelers and still living on that tradition, but completely apathetic or cynical on the Bucs.
The Meadows/Glasnow trade has set the Pirates back a couple years. Glasnow, if healthy, can be a star. Great kid. He’s the EXACT player you build around. Hey Pirates, next time Tampa Bay calls to make a deal just hang up. LOL
Trade to this point looks terrible, however Glasnow’s last two games 0-2, 7.71 era. He just throws too many pitches, and they tend to be all over the place. Meadow’s post season 23 ab, .130 average and 10k’s. Starting to display lack of ability to lay off bad breaking pitches, not something easily fixed. Against elite teams both have struggled or improved. Hoping Swaggerty is not the same, Reynold’s drafted and played for Giants at first. I like the way Reynolds battles counts, Jason Martin looked to have similar tendencies before freak injury, not drafted by Pirates either. Archer been a huge disappointment, hope Marin can get him back on track!
Meadows had a huge start to the year for the first 2 months, Had a horrible middle 2 months and an average last 2 months. Way to soon to proclaim any stardom for either he or Glasnow. Will have to see if the rest worked to heal him or if he will break down early again and potentially surgery if the arm issues return.
And 4years ago they were in the wild card game vs the Cubs. Amazing how your team is a 95 game winner the next 4 seasons its 3rd or worse.
Then don’t watch! Become a bandwagon fan of some ultra rich team like most of todays younger fans.
He’s got a good sense of humor at least… Keep that clubhouse moral up as they lose 100+ this year
God only knows how many clubhouse morals that team needs lol.
Comment of the day.
That’s alot of his problem…more worried about giving interviews and being a clown, than being a successful pitcher, atleast when he was here in texas.
That’s alot of his problem…more worried about giving interviews and being a clown, than being a successful pitcher, atleast when he was here in texas.
Holland is AWFUL!! The dude has not gotten a right handed hitter out since 2018.
And I bet that was on a sacrifice fly to deep left field.
3 out or end of inning rule could doom this guy, wrecks lefty vs lefty if he has to followup against right handers.
nice uniform
Why don’t they sign t walker to a two year deal?
Not bad. Tradeable asset if he can regain some form. Stranger things have happened.
The dream is not reality.
Derek Lastname is trash
This guy could have some value if you make him strictly Lefty vs Lefty reliever…528 OPS vs LH hitters is pretty impressive actually and could be useful out of the pen!
This is why Pittsburgh is very laughable of a franchise these are the only kinds of moves they make. They now have the lowest payroll in all of baseball they unloaded a $10 million a year player in an attempt to as the general manager said “lower payroll“ and now will only make these kinds of signings. Also, I don’t want to hear they are a small market franchise because there are other small market franchises who is payroll, opening day will be 30-$40 million more than Pittsburgh.
Takes courage to be a loyal fan of a team with a cheap owner. You must be a fan of one of those free spending franchises that can give out $300 million dollar plus contracts. Must be nice but true loyalty can’t be bought!
He’s still around? Wow I’m actually surprised he made it this far with such bad numbers.
He sucked bad with the Cubs. Doubt he’ll rediscover anything
Makes sense to add him and Erlin. Lefties are completely depleted in the organization with the exception of Brault. Hopefully one of them ends up being serviceable.
I understand the cheap shots from fans of other teams here, the Pirates are an easy target and it really doesn’t take much effort or intelligence to rip on them. I agree that the previous management team were just yes men puppets for nutting and I for one am glad they are gone. As true Pirate fans, how about we give this new management team a chance before we tar and feather them and run them out of town. I like what I have seen from them so far and am more than willing to show some patience. Just throwing bunches of money at this team is not going to fix the problems and nutting is never going to do that.
Holland keeps getting employed! He’s been consistently inconsistent. Some years a nice value other years pure disaster. At least teams still think he’s worth a roll of the dice! Good for him.