Pirates Will Look At Clay Rapada

Posted by on February 6, 2012 | 8 Comments

Tom Singer of MLB.com reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates will look into left handed reliever Clay Rapada. Rapada was designated for assignment today by the Baltimore Orioles. If the Pirates were to add him, it would either have to be via a waiver claim, or through a trade. Either way, they’d have to clear a 40-man roster spot.

Rapada has 52.2 innings in the majors, and the results haven’t been that good. He’s got a 5.13 ERA in that time, along with a 7.5 K/9, a 5.5 BB/9, and a 1.4 HR/9 ratio. The 2011 season was his best year from a secondary numbers standpoint. He had a 9.9 K/9 ratio and a 3.9 BB/9 ratio in 16.1 innings.

In his career he’s been more of a LOOGY, with a .153 BAA and a .472 OPS against left handers, compared to a .359 BAA and a 1.166 OPS against right handers. He was used more as a LOOGY in 2011, with 53 plate appearances vs lefties (.104/.170/.167 line against) and just 16 plate appearances against right handers (.692/.750/1.462 line against). Those are some horrendous numbers against right handers. For reference, the Pirates had only two players last year with an OPS above .750. Rapada gave up an on-base percentage alone of .750 against right handers.

Rapada wouldn’t be a horrible depth option, as he’s definitely effective against left handers. I think a bullpen spot would be better used on a fifth effective right hander, rather than adding someone like Rapada just to have two left handers in the pen.

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About Tim Williams

Tim is the owner and editor in chief of Pirates Prospects. He started the site in January 2009, and turned it into his full time job during the 2011 season. Prior to starting Pirates Prospects, Tim worked with AccuScore.com, providing MLB, NHL, and NFL coverage to various national media outlets, including ESPN Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and the Wall Street Journal. He also writes the annual Prospect Guide, which is sold through the site. Tim moved to Bradenton in 2013, and will be providing live coverage all year of the Bradenton Marauders, GCL Pirates, instructs, mini camp, Spring Training, and lunches at Mixon's Fruit Farms.
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8 Responses

  1. Anonymous
    February 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    Why would they even look at this bum?

  2. Anonymous
    February 6, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    they think he might be a better bum than Moskos.

    Unless he shows  more this spring, he is probably a candidate to be dropped from roster if space is needed.  I am rooting for him to turn into a very good relief pitcher.

  3. James S
    February 6, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    High walk rate, so you KNOW the Pirates will want him.

  4. F Lang
    February 6, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    Not worth wasting a spot on the 40 for.

  5. Justin Gray
    February 6, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    Blake DeWitt was just DFA’d as well.  I think he could be a better infielder spot on the 40 man (and 25 man) than Gus “The Bus” Nunez. Having DeWitt as Walker’s backup allows d’Arnaud and Harrison to season a bit more in AAA.  owns a career .260/.329/.385 line. still just 26.

  6. John Lease
    February 6, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    What on earth would we want this bum for?  We HAVE plenty of bums.

  7. Anonymous
    February 7, 2012 at 11:07 am

    Hey Tim. Love your stuff. I’ve seen “LOOGY” in a couple of posts recently, but I haven’t seen what it stands for. Mind including that every now and then for those of us less in the know? :-)