OnlyBucs

Just curious, what do posters think will transpire with Edgar Santana going down? Who will NH look at to fill his shoes in the back end of the pen?



Bucs Fan in GA

pretty much guarantees that Feliz will be back. Probably keeps Neverauskas in system too. I expected him to be on the bubble going into 2019 spring training, now if he has a decent spring he will make the team.



The pen needs a better lefty than Brault.

I agree, we need a lefty. Wonder if former Bucco, Ollie Perez, would fill the bill as bullpen depth. Know former Bucco, Zach Duke was available last off-season as well. But, we must add a lefty pitcher to the mix.



Anyone else have any free-agent suggestions for relief?



Beat'em Bucs

I'd say one of the biggest needs going into next season is left handed pitching, both in the rotation and in the bullpen. I could see bringing in a lefty starter and moving Musgrove to the pen (of course, pitching tends to sort itself out...I doubt the 2019 Pirates will be the first team in baseball history with too much).

I think Rodriguez takes Santana's role (7th inning), so the hole to fill will be Rodriguez's spot. I too hope they add a quality lefty to the pen.

One suggestion could be AJ Schugel depending on how his arm is working in ST. May be a good one but also maybe a turkey. Who knows.

66565A41415C5B78544646350 wrote: I think Rodriguez takes Santana's role (7th inning), so the hole to fill will be Rodriguez's spot. I too hope they add a quality lefty to the pen.
Between Rodriguez, Crick, Kela (if healthy) and Vazquez, the back end is set. They had a luxury of surplus back end relievers. That still leaves the same questions for middle relief that we've sen this year. In that sense, the BP questions remain the same before Santana was hurt.

If Nick Burdi is fully recovered from TJ surgery, then he could be an option for the bullpen. If I have understood the Rule 5 regulation, Burdi must be on the 25 man roster for two months next season in order for the Bucs to retain his rights.

676B6A3138313934332C36010 wrote: If Nick Burdi is fully recovered from TJ surgery, then he could be an option for the bullpen. If I have understood the Rule 5 regulation, Burdi must be on the 25 man  roster for two months next season in order for the Bucs to retain his rights.
Yup, put me down for Burdi, too, unless his ST performance stinks. The Bucs paid a price for Burdi and he's a high upside arm.

Agree with the majority that Vazquez, Kela, Crick, and Rodriguez will form the back end. I would argue that Kingham and Brault (only lefty besides Vazquez) will be kept as log men/spot starters. I don't think either has a remaining option, but put one at Indy if I'm wrong and that makes room for a lefty FA.



That leaves one spot. Feliz has an option, and pitchers always get hurt. I think that puts Feliz at Indy at season's beginning, but probably not by season's end. I think they'll try to get the required Rule 5 time out of Burdi

4B616A5A6D7B7B77180 wrote: If Nick Burdi is fully recovered from TJ surgery, then he could be an option for the bullpen. If I have understood the Rule 5 regulation, Burdi must be on the 25 man  roster for two months next season in order for the Bucs to retain his rights.
Yup, put me down for Burdi, too, unless his ST performance stinks. The Bucs paid a price for Burdi and he's a high upside arm.

Agree with the majority that Vazquez, Kela, Crick, and Rodriguez will form the back end. I would argue that Kingham and Brault (only lefty besides Vazquez) will be kept as log men/spot starters. I don't think either has a remaining option, but put one at Indy if I'm wrong and that makes room for a lefty FA.



That leaves one spot. Feliz has an option, and pitchers always get hurt. I think that puts Feliz at Indy at season's beginning, but probably not by season's end. I think they'll try to get the required Rule 5 time out of Burdi


I agree with this. Watching the Cubs and Brewers yesterday, I was thinking, again, how we really need a LOOGY on this team. 19 games each against Rizzo and Yelich, not to mention Votto and Carpenter.