The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract for $3 million. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat reporter Noah Hiles was first with the news. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com subsequently reported the contract details. The deal is pending a physical.
The Pirates have signed LHP Caleb Ferguson to a one-year, $3 million contract, per source. @_NoahHiles first with the signing
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) January 9, 2025
Pirates Sign Caleb Ferguson
The Pirates’ need for bullpen help has been no secret. Having lost Aroldis Chapman to the Boston Red Sox, and with no apparent interest in returning free agents Jalen Beeks and Ryan Borucki to Pittsburgh, barring further moves one would expect Ferguson to slide into the role of the Pirates’ top left-handed reliever.
In a 2024 season split between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, Ferguson had a 4.64 ERA, one save, and a 1.491 WHIP. It’s almost as if the Pirates are bringing back Beeks, who had a 4.50 ERA and 1.486 WHIP last year. Ferguson has been better, however. Previously, he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2018-23, sitting out 2021 with an injury. Ferguson is 19-13 with a 3.68 ERA, six saves, and a 1.330 WHIP in his career.
He was at his best in 2020 and 2022. Combining those two seasons, he had an ERA of 2.19 and a 1.106 WHIP in 58 games. The Pirates obviously would love Ferguson to revert to that form, and at age 28 it’s a realistic possibility.
A deeper dive into the 2024 numbers reveals what likely attracted the Pirates to Ferguson. He registered a strikeout rate of 11.1 per nine innings. Additionally, he held left-handed hitters to a .218/.354/.308 slash line. Right-handers hit him to the tune of .277/.333/.433. He faced 153 right-handers as opposed to 96 left-handers, indicating he may have been miscast in a role for which he wasn’t suited.
He’s relied mostly on a four-seam fastball which averaged 93.8 mph in 2024. Ferguson also features a cutter, curveball, sinker, and more rarely, a sweeper. The four-seamer was used 43 percent of the time and was touched up for a .323 BA, .437 wOBA, and .393 BABIP. On the other hand, against the cutter, which he used 26 percent of the time, opponents were able to muster only a .135 BA, .182 wOBA, and .226 BAbip.
Main Photo: © Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
