The Pirates have claimed right-handed pitcher Guido (pronounced Geedo) Knudson off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. Knudson spent most of his time in 2015 in Triple-A, putting up a 2.34 ERA in 42.1 innings, with a 9.4 K/9 and a 4.5 BB/9. He pitched briefly in the majors, with some pretty horrible results, allowing ten runs on 13 hits in five innings, while striking out six and walking three.
Pitch f/x had him 92-95 MPH in his short time in the majors, and other reports had him in the 94-95 MPH range most of the time in the minors. He mostly relies on a slider as his off-speed pitch, sitting in the low 80s, but touching mid-80s.
Knudson has two option years remaining, although he seems like a great candidate to claim, and then waive later in the off-season. The fact that he made it to the Pirates in the first place means that every American League team passed on him, and almost all of the National League teams passed on him. The Pirates took the same approach when they claimed Jorge Rondon a few weeks ago from the Orioles. Both are hard throwing relievers with control problems. If you get enough of those guys, one might turn into Arquimedes Caminero. My guess is that this practice will continue going forward, with guys like Knudson and Rondon being placed on waivers later in the off-season, with the hope that they can be outrighted to Triple-A.
