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Pirates Sign Left-Hander Clayton Richard to a Minor League Deal

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-hander Clayton Richard to a minor league deal with an invitation to Major League camp. Richard missed a lot of the 2014 season after recovering from AC joint surgery in 2013, and thoracic outlet surgery during the 2013-14 off-season. He signed a minor league deal with Arizona mid-season, but only made four appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, with poor results as a starter.

Richard has a good track record of pitching in the majors as a starter, with a 4.33 ERA in 773.1 innings over six years. He struggled in 2013, and that could have been due to the injuries. Prior to that, he looked great, combining for a 3.88 ERA in 520 innings from 2010-12 as a starter for the Padres. That included two seasons where he topped 200 innings.

My guess is that Richard would be considered first for a lefty relief role, since that is a bigger priority for the Pirates. They could use starting pitchers, but they would need someone a lot more reliable than Richard to compete for a job. The key here would be his health. Can he bounce back from the injuries in 2013-14 and go back to his pre-2013 self? If so, he would be a great addition. Some of the best lefty relievers are former starters. Richard was a decent starter when healthy, and that could make him a great reliever if he gets back to being healthy. He might even be a decent depth option for the rotation.

This is a good move for the Pirates, as the cost is minimal, and the potential upside would fill several possible needs for the team.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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