The Pirates have shut left-hander Steven Brault down due to a strained muscle in his left shoulder, the team announced this morning. He’ll be reevaluated in two weeks’ time.
Brault, 27, pitched a career-high 113 1/3 innings at the Major League level in 2019 but struggled to a career-worst 5.16 ERA in that time. He averaged 8.0 strikeouts, 4.2 walks and 1.19 homers per nine innings pitched along the way.
Additional details on the injury weren’t provided, but it obviously casts doubt upon Brault’s readiness to begin the season. He’s worked both as a starter and as a reliever in the Majors and seemed likely to slot into the 2020 rotation prior to this morning’s announcement. The Bucs are thin on starting pitching options on the 40-man roster following injuries to Jameson Taillon (2019 Tommy John surgery), Chad Kuhl (2018 Tommy John surgery) and Clay Holmes (broken foot).
An absence for Brault could further open the door for non-roster southpaw Derek Holland to make the Opening Day rotation alongside Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams and Mitch Keller. The Pirates could also look to the handful of remaining free agents or pursue some alternative depth options later in camp as veterans opt out of minor league deals and as other players are exposed to waivers.
As steelocity would say…. it never ends
Pitchers who rake
First Holmes, then Koehler, now Brault. Suddenly I feel Pittsburg might be screwed.
Not to pile on. But if you think they are screwed because of this, you haven’t been paying enough attention
Its Pittsburgh not Pittsburg
Padres have pitching but need hitting.
Package Hosmer and three arms for Bell.
Maybe Weathers, Baez, Morejon and part of Hosmers contract for Bell?
That would never happen. No MLB team is stupid enough to take on Eric Hosmer’s contract unless they are getting blue-chip prospects.
Fair enough. Structure a trade around Patino
Pass!
Pitts isnt taking on Hosmer lol
The Pirates won’t take Hosmer, especially his contract
I don’t know, if the deal is right and the Pads pay a majority of his contract.
Essentially it could be a Patino,Baez,Quantril and Hosmer for Bell.
Hosmer’s contract is absorbed by the Pads so basicly itd be as if they were paying that for Bell.
Pirates get one of the top pitching prospects in the game in Patino, a stud up and coming bul pen arm in Baez, a young starter with plenty of upside in Quantril and to replace Bell positionally, Hosmer.
Patiño isn’t going anywhere. Our best offer for Bell might look more like Morejon, Quantril and Hoz. Payment on Hoz to be negotiated. Even those 3 might be an overpay but we do need to move people so I’d do it for Bell.
Pirates would take the 3rd offer.
Not sure why the Pads would give up Patino, Baez and Quantrill
While also eating Hosmers contract just for Bell.
But yes Pirates would be crazy not to take that
Or Quantil or Lucchesi instead of Weathers and that gives the Bucs an MLB pitcher with plenty of upside instead of a prospect.
interesting tattoo
Yesterday I said AA and A pitchers would be in the bigs for the Pirates this year. College kids and American Legion pitchers are looking good about now
But as long as we have fireworks and pierogi races
No MLB team is stupid enough, I recall pirates trading for Chris Archer, so I think that qualifies them as stupid
Padres had their shot with Marte & couldn’t pull the trigger. Pirates don’t need to trade anybody at this point in time. There will be plenty of guys falling out of favor by the end of spring training looking for an opportunity somewhere.
Truth be told I get your point. Wish theyd match up but not like the Sox proposed trade. That was garbage.
Pads would have given Myers and prospects away for nothing in return.
One of these prospects in the Pads system will turn out and the rest of MLB will regret not trading for maybe the next Jake Peavy or Kluber when they had the chance.
Is that fish scale tattoos on his arm?
Im just looking at that tattoo
I can recall NH just last summer taking responsibility for not having enough major league ready pitching to rely on when injuries hit. I guess BC doesn’t see any value in that depth either
Agree. But unless they plan on going the AA or A route, pretty soon they’ll have no choice. Last year was an embarrassment with Vazquez the icing on the cake. Can they really get any lower this year?
He got a late start on the off season and signed 7 different players to either minor league deals, or cheap 1 year deals. Huntington signed 11 total contracts throughout the last 2 off seasons.
A smart man learns from his own mistakes,a wise one learns from others’ mistakes.
Not sure that BC is either smart or wise.
Then again he may be tanking,which is something that NH never did.
If bob was not so cheap, he could have some great starters and good line up. Spend money bob. You just need a few veterans. You guys are pushing these kids too hard to perform and getting them hurt early.
Just like last year, pitchers start to get hurt in ST. Too much of a trend. Last ST there was 7, and so far there is 3. Half way to matching last year