According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates are nearing a deal with left-handed relief pitcher Jarlin Garcia on a one-year deal with a club option. Jason Mackey is reporting that the deal is done, though it is still pending a physical.
The Pirates are close to a one-year deal with LHP Jarlín García, per source. The deal is expected to have a club option. García, who turns 30 next month, has a 2.89 ERA in 188 appearances since the start of 2019.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 6, 2022
Garcia, who will turn 30 years old next month, began his big league career with the Miami Marlins, where he put in three seasons with mixed results. He had a 4.29 ERA during that time, with a 1.22 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 170 innings. He moved on to the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and dominated during the shortened season, posting an 0.49 ERA and an 0.98 WHIP in 18.1 innings over 19 appearances. He was strong in 2021, putting up a 2.62 ERA in 68.2 innings over 58 appearances, with 68 strikeouts and an 0.96 WHIP. That ERA, while still decent, continued to trend up in 2022, as he had a 3.74 ERA in 65 innings over 58 games, with 56 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP.
The deal is for one year, with an option. He would have been guaranteed to reach free agency without that option added, as he has over five years of service time. If he can maintain the 2022 numbers, or even improve to 2020-21 standards, then it’s likely that they bring him back beyond 2023.
UPDATE 1:20 PM: The deal is for $2.5 million with a club option for $3.25 million in 2024.
Jarlín Garcia's contract with Pirates is for $2.5 million in 2023 with a $3.25 million option for 2024
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) December 6, 2022
