The Pittsburgh Pirates have added veteran relief pitcher Justin Lawrence on a waiver claim. The Colorado Rockies waived Lawrence over the weekend. Thomas Harding of mlb.com was the first to break the news.
#Pirates have claimed RHP Justin Lawrence off waivers from the #Rockies.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) March 3, 2025
Pirates Add Relief Pitcher Lawrence
Lawrence, 30, is a six-foot-three, 213-pound reliever who’d spent his entire four-year major league career with Colorado. His repertoire features a sinker and sweeper. For his career, he’s 12-12 with a 5.43 ERA, 14 saves, and a 1.613 WHIP. Lawrence is only one year removed from his best season in 2023, when he posted a 3.72 ERA and recorded 11 saves, making him the type of low-cost risk the Pirates have been willing to take in recent years.
The baseball gods weren’t as kind in 2024, however, when Lawrence was part of a poor Colorado bullpen. He finished that season with a 6.49 ERA and 1.777 WHIP. He struck out an atypical 6.8 batters per nine innings, down from 9.4 the previous year. Furthermore, he may have pitched his way off the Rockies with his spring training performance, which saw him surrender three earned runs, four hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen in three innings.
However, his career 4.32 FIP indicates that bad luck, bad support, and ballpark factors may have conspired against him. Indeed, as might be expected, in 2024 Lawrence was better away from hitter-friendly Coors Field. At home, his ERA was 8.49 to go with a 2.124 WHIP and an opponents’ stat line of .378/.442/.575. Away from Coors, his 4.50 ERA and 1.433 WHIP were more palatable, albeit not outstanding, while opponents slashed .236/.369/.377 against him.
The Plan
The Pirates were also likely intrigued by Lawrence’s 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings during 2021-23. His walks per nine during his career, however, are an unacceptable 5.1. Obviously, the Pirates feel confident enough to help Lawrence do what he’s done well before while improving where needed. The change of scenery may help, too.
Lawrence is out of minor league options, so the Pirates will have to keep him on the major league squad or risk losing him on another waiver claim. Surely, the plan is for Lawrence to be among the group that goes north at the end of spring training. He’ll be part of a retooled bullpen that will include newcomers Caleb Ferguson, Tim Mayza, and Peter Strzelecki, inter alios, in support of closer David Bednar.
Main Photo Credits: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
