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The Top Unsigned Left-Handed Relievers

By Steve Adams | January 30, 2024 at 2:17pm CDT

Pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Spring Training in about two weeks but a slow offseason means there are still plenty of free agents out there. Over the past week, MLBTR has already taken a look at the remaining catchers, first basemen, second basemen, third basemen, shortstops, center fielders, corner outfielders designated hitters and starting pitchers. Next up, we’ll run through some of the top remaining left-handed bullpen options out there.

  • Wandy Peralta: From 2021-23, Peralta logged 153 innings of 2.82 ERA ball with a 21% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and huge 56.5% ground-ball rate as a member of the Yankees’ bullpen. In addition to keeping the ball on the ground at a strong clip, Peralta manages hard contact quite well. He’s been in the 88th percentile or better in opponents’ average exit velocity in each of the past four seasons, per Statcast. Peralta had some uncharacteristic command struggles in ’23. His walk rate jumped from 7.6% to 13.6%, and he plunked a career-high six batters — as many as he’d hit over the four previous years combined. Still, the track record is good, he kept his ERA below 3.00 even with the shaky command, and at 32 he’s younger than most of the other southpaws available. Both the Yankees and Mets have been reported to have interest, but there are surely quite a few other teams who’d be happy to plug him into the bullpen.
  • Brad Hand: Hand, 34 in March, posted a 4.54 ERA in 35 2/3 innings with the Rockies before getting rocked for a 7.50 mark in 18 innings following a trade to the Braves. That was due largely to an alarmingly low 49% strand rate — a mark so low that it’s assuredly fluky. (Hand’s career 73% strand rate is right around the league average.) Hand had his best strikeout and walk rates since 2020 last season, whiffing a quarter of opponents against a 9.3% walk rate. He was one of MLB’s premier relievers from 2016-20 (2.70 ERA, 104 saves, 33.3% strikeout rate), and while those days are probably in the past, he posted serviceable or better ERA marks in 2021-22. Hand will probably command another affordable one-year deal.
  • Jake Diekman: Diekman has never had even close to average command, but despite the fact that he has only once posted a walk rate under 11%, he’s still caved out a nice 12-year MLB career. He’s 37 now, but the southpaw’s 95.6 mph average heater in 2023 was a dead match for his average velocity over the preceding seven seasons. Diekman was rocked in 11 1/3 innings with the White Sox to begin the year but — stop me if you’ve heard this one before — completely turned things around upon being picked up by the Rays. In 45 1/3 frames, Diekman recorded a sparkling 2.18 ERA while striking out 28.6% of his opponents. Diekman throws hard, keeps the ball on the ground and misses plenty of bats, but command will always be an issue for him. A big league deal could still be in the cards for him.
  • Aaron Loup: There’s no getting around Loup’s ugly year in 2023, when he posted a 6.10 ERA with his lowest strikeout rate since 2014 and highest walk rate since 2017. But Loup has an extensive track record at the big league level, including a terrific run from 2017-22 when he notched a tidy 3.06 ERA in a combined 241 innings across six seasons. Now 36 years old, Loup will look to bounce back to prior form — presumably with a new team. To his credit, Loup kept the ball on the ground at a strong 46.6% clip and still had a nice opponents’ batted-ball profile, per Statcast (87.9 mph average exit velocity, 37.2% hard-hit rate). Last year’s sky-high .373 average on balls in play undoubtedly drove up his ERA. Metrics like FIP (4.36) and SIERA (4.33), while still not painting a great picture, were far kinder to Loup than his more rudimentary ERA.
  • Jarlin Garcia: Garcia didn’t throw a single pitch in 2023 due to a nerve issue in his biceps. However, he only just turned 31 years old on Jan. 18 and enjoyed very strong results from 2019-22. In that time, the lefty tossed 202 2/3 innings of 2.89 ERA ball between Marlins and Giants. Garcia averages 93.4 mph on his heater, and while his 21.6% strikeout rate from ’19-’22 was a couple percentage points shy of average, his 7.2% walk rate was better than average and he kept the ball on the ground at a solid 42.1% clip. Garcia has benefited from low BABIPs and playing his home games in cavernous settings, but he’s still a capable middle reliever who’d be a lock for a big league deal if not for last year’s injury. He won’t be game-ready for the start of spring training but recently resumed throwing and is expected to be back on a mound around May 1.

Honorable mentions: Joely Rodriguez, Richard Bleier, Amir Garrett, Justin Wilson

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2023-24 MLB Free Agents MLBTR Originals Aaron Loup Brad Hand Jake Diekman Jarlin Garcia Wandy Peralta

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Orioles Notes: Trade Market, Urias, Zimmermann, Akin, Hall
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24 Comments

  1. 178iq

    1 year ago

    Yankees are so disrespectful for not signing peralta. Shame on them. They really know how to make players feel unimportant

    2
    Reply
    • Fred Lingenfelser

      1 year ago

      About Diekman, the article states he “completely turned things around upon being picked up by the Rays.” That’s not unique to Diekman lol.

      1
      Reply
    • mlb fan

      1 year ago

      “Shame on them”…I’ve heard “rumors” that Wandy has been asking for 3 years at 8-9M/yr. That’s the only possible reason this guy is unsigned. I’m guessing a lot of teams aren’t necessarily interested in 3 years. He’ll get signed as soon as he settles for 1 or maybe 2 years. Overall, he’s a very reliable, somewhat rubber armed LH reliever. He’s worth 8-9M/yr.

      1
      Reply
    • cwsOverhaul

      1 year ago

      Seems like they are trying to up the bids. Makes sense. Article mentions both NY clubs + guessing Cubs probably checking and quite a few to land a nice 2-3yr deal.

      Reply
      • drasco036

        1 year ago

        I don’t see the Cubs signing any more relievers to be honest. They added some depth pieces and a high leverage reliever already. It’s pretty much Hoyer M.O. to sign one l reliever who can pitch 8/9 and typically an innings eater but given the Cubs already have Smyly, the innings eater isn’t a necessity.

        Reply
  2. Joe says...

    1 year ago

    Get Wandy back Cashman.

    2
    Reply
    • mlb fan

      1 year ago

      “Get Wandy back”..I don’t necessarily favor 3+ yr deals for relievers(Wandy reportedly wants 3 yrs), but this guy, Wandy Peralta, has spent a majority of the last few years as one of Aaron Boone’s most trusted, reliable and available(Do not underrate available)relief options. And he’s not just a LH specialist since he also gets out righties.

      1
      Reply
      • Joe says...

        1 year ago

        This is the first I’m hearing he wants 3 years. I can see why he isn’t signed yet if that’s the case. I’d go two years at 6 million per. That’s going to carry the Yankees way over the final lux tax threshold but they have signaled this is a go for it year with the moves they made. They shouldn’t stop now.

        2
        Reply
        • mlb fan

          1 year ago

          “This is the first”..Take it for what it’s worth because I think I saw it on the NY Post. I guess it all depends on how reliable and trustworthy the internet is. It does make some level of sense, because why else is an excellent LH relief option still unsigned?

          2
          Reply
  3. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    1 year ago

    Not shocked Wandy hasn’t been signed. He was very good for the Yankees, but I always felt like we were watching a guy muscle through his appearances and getting very lucky a large percentage of the time. He seems like a threat to completely fall apart and implode.

    I’d give him 1 year/$8.1M or 2 years/$13M or 3 years/$15M but 3 years/$25.5M would be an overpay. Too much risk over the lifetime of the contract and too expensive for that risk.

    Reply
  4. Rishi

    1 year ago

    Wouldn’t it be possible to have a low strand rate because you weren’t good? I mean, I guess someone who cares should look up his numbers with bases empty, runners in scoring position, etc. I personally don’t care enough to do so. But my point is when you say it’s positively a fluke, isn’t that a bit bias without looking a little deeper? I mean if I were an MLB pitcher I would likely have a 1% strand rate. So it’s possible. I mean a 49% strand rate is totally possible if you stink. Dare I question oversimplified use of advanced stats (even tho they may be true in this case)?

    Reply
    • drasco036

      1 year ago

      A 50% left on base rate really isn’t all that high.

      Stats are great but yeah, you have to dig deeper into stats. Walks are not always a bad thing but who you walk. Walking the 7/8/9 hitter is a bad thing. Walking a guy who’s red hot to get to a guy who isn’t or is a better match up isn’t a bad thing.

      Situation always dictates and we as fans don’t have the entire book. That’s why teams have to look deeper, was it a “good” walk or a “bad” walk. Did he walk Judge to get to Stanton or did he Trea Turner when he was struggling badly and end up facing Harper. One walk is smart baseball, the other is a horrendous, hair pulling out mistake.

      Reply
  5. StudWinfield

    1 year ago

    I would not mind Wandy coming back but his control issues really give me pause. Ottavio, Britton now Wandy at some point the lack of control can’t be overcome with GB and HH rates. Just as happy assuming Yanks got the best of him the last few years and moving on.

    1
    Reply
    • Joe says...

      1 year ago

      After seeing so many of my fellow Yankees fans responses over the last few days, I think I’m in the minority calling for a reunion with Wandy. Weird. So many people think we speak with a singular voice.

      1
      Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        1 year ago

        I’m in the minority that the Yankees need a stronger bench bat bc Wells, Cabrera, and Grisham won’t cut it as pinch-hitters. It can’t again be a revolving door of Jake Bauers’ and Franchy Codero’s. I’m more confident in Cashman being able to piece together a bullpen without Wandy involved.

        Reply
        • Joe says...

          1 year ago

          YBC I’m all about signing Urshela.

          Reply
        • Motor City Beach Bum

          1 year ago

          Trade Wells and Cabrera to Detroit for a bench bat, a relief pitcher and minor league pitching. Detroit has needs for catching and shortstop depth (future starters) and is deep in all those areas with good bench bats at relievers. The Yankees depleted their minor league pitching when they got Soto and the Tigers have lots of interesting young arms.

          Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          1 year ago

          I think the Yankees have plans for Wells to be Trevino’s successor. They also want Cabrera as a low-cost super UTIL. If Gleyber Torres leaves, they need Peraza. It would be less costly to trade for either a reliever or a rental bat at the deadline. They will have a lot more holes to fill next year if Wells and Cabrera get dealt. Soto (OF), Verdugo (OF), Torres (2B), and Rizzo (1B)(’25 team option) will all be FAs.

          Reply
        • Motor City Beach Bum

          1 year ago

          Very good points. Forgot Torres contract is expiring. Cheers dude.

          1
          Reply
  6. Rishi

    1 year ago

    So your saying besides Peralta it’s slim pickings….I’ll take a flier on Justin Wilson if I get him for 2m or less.

    Reply
  7. HalosHeavenJJ

    1 year ago

    Loup was really bad but so was the defense behind him for most of the year.

    He seemed to die by a thousand paper cuts and the BABIP kind of proves it.

    Part of that was his inability to put guys away. Way too many 2 strike counts that later turned into hits.

    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      1 year ago

      Peralta needs to come back to the Yankees. However they are now in the counting every penny stage of the Off-season. If the Yankees are not going ALL IN this year why trade for Soto. Ever since the Yankees missed out on Yamamoto the Off-season has been horrible. Started great with Soto and now has been horrible.

      Reply
  8. Mr. E Team

    1 year ago

    Which club’s bullpen has NO lefties right now? That would make them the most likely candidates to sign one of these southpaws.

    Reply
    • mlbnyyfan

      1 year ago

      If Yankees don’t bring back Peralta it’s b
      probably because they think Gonzalez from LAD they got will replace him

      Reply

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