Erik Cordier

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2004
R:  2-4-0, 5.19 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 34.2 IP, 5.5 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

In what was to become a career-long pattern, Cordier struggled with his control while making 11 starts in rookie ball.

2005
Did not play

Following knee surgery in September 2004, Cordier missed the entire 2005 season.

2006
R+:  1-0-0, 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
A:  3-1-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.6 K/9

Cordier returned in June and showed considerable improvement over the next two months.  He had to be shut down due to elbow problems, though, and had Tommy John surgery after the season.

2007
Did not play

The Royals traded Cordier to Atlanta at the beginning of the season.  The Braves acquired him knowing he would be out all year due to the elbow surgery.

2008
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A:  1-2-0, 5.18 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 40.0 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Cordier saw only limited action in his recovery year.

2009
A+:  7-8-0, 3.87 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 121.0 IP, 5.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Cordier spent the season in the rotation in high A and struggled with his control.  For a pitcher with good stuff, he didn’t strike out many, either.

2010
AA:  11-7-0, 3.71 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 135.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 7.5 K/9
AAA:  1-1-0, 5.62 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 7.9 BB/9, 4.5 K/9

In AA, Cordier made considerable progress despite continued weak control.  His fastball sat at 94-97 and his slider showed potential.  He held opponents to a .236 average.  The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

2011
AA:  0-1-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9
AAA:  5-8-0, 5.13 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 86.0 IP, 5.3 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Cordier had bone spur surgery on his elbow that cost him the early part of the season, and also got hit with a couple line drives late in the season.  When he was able to pitch he struggled in AAA, walking nearly as many as he fanned.

2012
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 3.2 IP, 14.7 BB/9, 14.7 K/9
AA:  0-2-0, 20.25 ERA, 3.25 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 11.2 BB/9, 13.5 K/9
AAA:  1-1-0, 4.38 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 7.7 BB/9, 5.5 K/9

Cordier missed most of the season with a hand injury and struggled when he pitched.  The Braves removed him from their 40-man roster after the season.

2013
AAA:  4-2-4, 4.58 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 53.0 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Cordier stayed healthy and pitched in relief for Indianapolis all year.  His fastball generally sat in the upper-90s and he sometimes hit triple digits.  He continued to struggle with control problems, but not at previous levels.  The problems tended to come in bursts; he’d be OK for a while, then walk three in an inning.  He maintained a consistently high K rate.  Cordier improved a lot after the early going.  In April and May, he had an ERA of 5.85, WHIP of 1.65 and BB/9 of 5.85.  After May he had an ERA of 3.82, WHIP of 1.39 and BB/9 of 4.1, so he made a great deal of progress but still was walking too many.  For the season, left-handed batters hit .319 against him and right-handed batters only .200.  The difference in OPS is actually smaller, though — .777 to .672 — because Cordier was more apt to walk righties and allowed all three of his HRs to them.

Cordier will be a free agent after the season, but the Pirates may consider adding him to the roster.  He made significant progress during the season, most of all by staying healthy, and the move to the bullpen appears to have worked well.  He still walks too many and probably wouldn’t be ready to pitch in the majors early in 2014, but he has an option left, at least by my calculations.  Alternatively, the Pirates could try to re-sign him to another minor league deal, which worked with Kris Johnson, although he’d be eligible for the Rule 5 draft.  You have to think that they’d like to keep a pitcher who hits 100 mph in the organization.