According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Pittsburgh Pirates have scouted right-handed reliever Brad Brach of the Baltimore Orioles. The 32-year-old Brach is a free agent at the end of this season, so unlike the names we’ve been hearing earlier from the Texas Rangers, this one would be just for this season. Brach is making $5.17 M this season.
Brach is a 6’6″, right-handed pitcher in his eighth season in the majors. He spent the first three years in San Diego and the last five in Baltimore. He has put up much better stats in the past than he has this year. In 39 innings over 42 appearances this season, he has 4.85 ERA, a 4.01 FIP, a 1.77 WHIP and 38 strikeouts. He hasn’t been a ground ball pitcher in the past, but this year he has a 1.29 GO/AO ratio, compared to an 0.88 mark across his big league career.
Brach is the only name mentioned by Cafardo besides Keone Kela, who has been the name mentioned most often for the Pirates. Cafardo did say that the Pirates were scouting numerous relief options without getting into anymore specifics. It sounds like that’s where the Pirates intend to add, whether it’s a long-term piece like Kela or a two-month rental like Brach. If it is the latter, or someone in a similar situation, he likely wouldn’t be the only player they add because that wouldn’t be enough to put this team over the top.