Anthony Claggett

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
A-:  0-1-7, 4.03 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 22.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 10.1 K/9 

Claggett had a variable debut in short season ball in 2005, pitching entirely in relief.  He had a .271 opponents’ average, but also a very good K rate of 10.1 per nine innings.

2006
A:  7-2-14, 0.91 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 59.1 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 8.8 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 9.99 BB/9, 18.00 K/9 

Had an outstanding year, still in relief in low A, putting himself on the prospect map despite not being an early round draft pick.  He fanned a batter an inning and opponents hit only .174 against him.

2007
A+:  9-8-2, 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 112.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 5 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 1.8 K/9

The Yankees obtained Claggett in the off-season and he spent much of the season in their rotation in the Florida State League.  The move didn’t go well.  His ERA was 3.69 in a pitching environment, opponents hit .274 against him and his K/9 dropped to 6.1.

2008
A+:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AA:  4-2-9, 2.15 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 8.4 K/9 

Claggett moved back to relief in 2008 in AA.  His ERA was excellent, but he allowed a lot of baserunners.  His K rate went back up and he allowed only one HR.

2009
AAA (NYY):  7-7-4, 3.07 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 82 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 4.7 K/9
MLB (NYY):  0-0-0, 33.75 ERA, 5.63 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 13.5 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
MLB (Pgh):  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 1 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 0.0 K/9 

Prior to being waived, Claggett was generally pitching well in AAA, but his K rate fell sharply to 4.7.  A very brief trial with Yankees resulted in ten earned runs in 2.2 IP.  He pitched in only one game after being claimed by the Pirates.

2010
AA:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 15 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.8 K/9
AAA:  3-1-1, 6.26 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 54.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 7.2 K/9 

The Pirates designated Claggett for assignment when they signed Octavio Dotel.  That meant all three of Yankee rejects whom they acquired in 2009 (Steven Jackson and Eric Hacker being the others) were waived within the space of a few months.  He cleared waivers and was assigned to Indianapolis.  He had an outside chance to make the roster in spring training but ended up in AAA.  He pitched poorly, although his peripherals weren’t as awful as his ERA.  Claggett also spent a little time at Altoona due to some overcrowding in AAA.  It was a missed opportunity for Claggett, as the Pirates needed bodies for the last two months when they traded or released most of their veteran relievers.

2011
AA:  5-5-2, 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 5.2 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 6.1 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 7.1 K/9 

Claggett wasn’t yet eligible for minor league free agency and he spent most of the season at Altoona, pitching just four games at Indianapolis.  He had a solid season in AA, but nothing like what you’d expect from a pitcher with his experience.  Hitters batted only .213 against him, but he had control problems and struck out barely more than he walked.  He’s become more of a flyball pitcher in the last couple years and he had mild gopher ball problems, allowing about one HR per nine innings pitching for a team whose home ballpark suppresses HRs.

Claggett will be eligible for free agency in the off-season.  He’s been going in the wrong direction with the Pirates, so it seems very likely he’ll move on.  Hopefully the departures of Claggett and the re-acquired Steve Jackson will signal an end to the team’s efforts to build a bullpen by picking up low-upside Yankees’ castoffs.  A little less fascination with sinkerballers might be good, too.