The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that they have signed left-handed pitcher Jarlin Garcia to a one-year contract with a club option for 2024. The deal is for $2.5 million, with a club option for $3.25 million in 2024. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Bryse Wilson has been designated for assignment.
This deal was agreed to three weeks ago, but Garcia has been home with his wife, who gave birth two days ago. He flew in today to complete his physical and sign the deal.
Garcia, who will turn 30 years old next month, began his big league career with the Miami Marlins, where he put in three seasons with mixed results. He had a 4.29 ERA during that time, with a 1.22 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 170 innings.
He moved on to the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and dominated during the shortened season, posting an 0.49 ERA and an 0.98 WHIP in 18.1 innings over 19 appearances.
He was strong in 2021, putting up a 2.62 ERA in 68.2 innings over 58 appearances, with 68 strikeouts and an 0.96 WHIP. That ERA, while still decent, continued to trend up in 2022, as he had a 3.74 ERA in 65 innings over 58 games, with 56 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP.
The Pirates had zero left-handed pitchers before he agreed to the deal. Since that time, they added Jose Hernandez in the Rule 5 draft, and they added three southpaws on minor league deals. They also agreed to a deal with veteran lefty starter Rich Hill yesterday.
Wilson was acquired from the Atlanta Braves at the 2021 trade deadline in the Richard Rodriguez deal. He made 28 starts and five relief appearances for the Pirates over the last two seasons, going 4-13, 5.37 in 156 innings, with a 5.13 FIP, a 1.37 WHIP and a 102:42 SO/BB ratio. He just turned 25 years old last week, and he has four years of control left.
The addition of Hill and Vince Velasquez pushed Wilson down the depth chart for starting pitchers. He was going to have a hard time making the team, with the rotation appearing to be set, and Johan Oviedo, Zach Thompson, Mike Burrows, Quinn Priester and Luis Ortiz looking like options to take starts during the season when needed.
