3 trade targets from the Pittsburgh Pirates for the Colorado Rockies

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton could also help the Colorado Rockies bullpen

Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Chris Stratton could also help the Colorado Rockies bullpen and as an innings eater.

Rockies fans probably best remember Stratton, 31, as a starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants but he has been with the Pirates since mid-2019 and he has done well in a relief role for the Pirates but also, as a multi-inning reliever. Essentially, Stratton could help Jhoulys Chacín fill the Chacín/Chi Chi González role from 2021 as a veteran swingman.

In 2021, he appeared in 68 games (all in relief) and he had an ERA of 3.63 (ERA+ of 116) and even had 8 saves. But he still had 79 1/3 innings pitched. 11 of his 68 outings were at least two innings pitched, which would help the Rockies out. He had a 3.76 FIP, a 1.298 WHIP, and he averaged 3.7 walks and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

In 2020, he made 27 appearances (30 innings) and he had a 3.90 ERA (116 ERA+). He had a FIP of 3.19, a WHIP of 1.3, and he averaged 3.9 walks and 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

In 2019, he started the season with the Angels as a starter but had little success (8.59 ERA) before the Pirates picked him up and used him as a reliever. With the Pirates, he made 28 appearances (all in relief) and had a 3.66 ERA (118 ERA+) in 46 2/3 innings. He also had a 4.11 FIP, a 1.393 WHIP, and he averaged 2.9 walks and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Stratton is entering his second year of arbitration.

Our Colorado Rockies trade target series finishes up the NL Central with the St. Louis Cardinals up next before we finish our series up in the NL West.