The Pirates on Monday signed Jordan Lyles to a
one-year, $2.05 million contract. They expect him to compete for a job in the
rotation next spring.
Bucs general manager Neal Huntington on Monday noted changes
to Lyles' pitch selection last season, which led to greater success on the
mound. Lyles increased his curveball usage and he saw his four-seam fastball
velocity improve as he posted the highest strikeout rate (22.6 percent) of his
career and held opponents to a .249 average. Lyles, 28, went 1-0 with a 3.31
ERA and a 2.49 FIP in 11 appearances late last season with the Brewers. He has
a 5.28 ERA and 4.50 FIP over eight big league seasons with the Astros, Rockies,
Padres and Brewers.
Lyles increased his four-seam usage from 29 percent in 2017
to 34 percent in '18. He bumped up his curveball usage from 20 percent in 2017
to 29 percent last season.
Forty-five of his 84 strikeouts came on his curveball.
Steven Brault and Nick Kingham will
compete with Lyles for a job in the rotation. Huntington said the club is still
considering an "opener," but only if one of those three do not claim
the job.
But that, Huntington said, is not the preference.
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