We checked in last week on what, if anything, the five lowest-scoring offenses of 2019 have done to improve themselves this winter. Let’s now take a look at whether any of the five starting rotations that posted the highest ERAs last year have gotten better this offseason. Free agency won’t offer much in the way of help at this point, so for the most part, what you see here is probably what you’ll get..
Colorado Rockies (5.87 ERA/5.31 FIP; current depth chart)
- Assembling a competent starting staff has regularly been a problem for the Rockies, who are stuck playing half their games at the unkind confines of Coors Field. It was a different story in 2018, the year the Rockies boasted a high-end starting staff, but things took a sharp turn for the worse last season. Aside from German Marquez and Jon Gray, who continued their strong production, no one from the Rockies’ rotation performed well. Kyle Freeland suffered through a disastrous campaign after posting a Cy Young-caliber 2018, while Antonio Senzatela, Peter Lambert, Jeff Hoffman, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Tim Melville, Tyler Anderson, Chad Bettis and Rico Garcia combined for woeful numbers across a combined 83 starts. So what have the Rockies done since to address their starting group? Nothing of note. It seems they’ll count on a bunch of their holdovers to turn in better showings, though their staff will take a big hit in the event they deal Gray (a potential trade candidate) before the season.
Los Angeles Angels (5.64 ERA/5.41 FIP; current depth chart)
- The Angels’ rotation suffered a terrible blow in the fall of 2018 when Shohei Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery, costing him all of last season, and then tragedy struck last July when Tyler Skaggs passed away. Considering the circumstances, it’s not surprising the Angels’ staff reeled last season. Nevertheless, adding reinforcements was clearly in order for this winter. The problem is that the Angels still haven’t found a way to acquire a proven front-of-the-rotation type, which many expected to them to get when the winter began. Ohtani’s back, which is a major plus. Meanwhile, the acquisitions of innings-eaters Dylan Bundy and Julio Teheran should help matters, but they’re not going to frighten opposing offenses. The Angels figure to keep trying to better their rotation in the coming months, though the open market has dried up and teams seemingly aren’t champing at the bit to move big-time starters via trade now.
Baltimore Orioles (5.57 ERA/5.72 FIP; current depth chart)
- Bundy, who led the O’s rotation in innings last season, is now gone. 2019 success story John Means remains in place, and Alex Cobb will be back in the wake of injuries that limited him to three starts. Those two aside, there’s little in the way of established starters for rebuilding Baltimore, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see the club try to find a cheap starter(s) in free agency before the season begins. The team did make an interesting move when it used the second pick of the Rule 5 Draft on 25-year-old righty Brandon Bailey, whom Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs calls a “spin rate monster.”
Detroit Tigers (5.51 ERA/4.66 FIP; current depth chart)
- Detroit’s rotation mix actually looks pretty promising, though it’s possible the team will weaken the mix by trading Matthew Boyd before the season. As of now, he’s back at the helm of a group that also got respectable performances from Spencer Turnbull and Daniel Norris last year. Stud prospects Casey Mize and Matt Manning are gaining on the majors, meanwhile, and Michael Fulmer should factor back in sometime this year after Tommy John surgery kept him away in 2019. Furthermore, the Tigers just signed the durable Ivan Nova to a cheap contract to serve as their resident back-end innings-eater. Jordan Zimmerman, arguably the weakest link in the chain, is also the most expensive. Mercifully for the Tigers, he’s finally entering the last season of what has been an albatross contract for the club.
Pittsburgh Pirates (5.19 ERA/4.78 FIP; current depth chart)
- The Pirates, already without staff leader Jameson Taillon for most of last season, suffered a horrid blow when he underwent a TJ procedure in August. He won’t be part of the 2020 staff as a result, leaving holdovers Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams at the helm of an uninspiring-looking bunch. Barring a trade, the hope is that the once-terrific Archer will put a nightmarish first year and a half as a Pirate behind him. Archer was markedly better as last season progressed, so there does seem to be some hope for a full-season bounce-back effort. The unit will include some speculative candidates in Tommy John rehabber Chad Kuhl and talented 23-year-old Mitch Keller, who struggled as a rookie but remains a premium pitching prospect.
The original version of this post mistakenly indicated that Kuhl underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019. His procedure occurred in September of 2018.
I’m VERY surprised the Royals aren’t on here.
They actually had the fourth-worst team ERA in the majors – it was Baltimore 5.59, Colorado 5.56, Detroit 5.24, KC 5.20, Pirates 5.18, Angels 5.12. http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=mlb#elem=%5Bobject+Object%5D&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Team+pitching&game_type='R'&season=2019&season_type=ANY&league_code='MLB'§ionType=st&statType=pitching&page=1&ts=1579072046142&sortColumn=era&sortOrder='asc'&extended=0
Yeah, but we all know ERA means nothing and spin rate is the only statistic that matters. Unless you are Rick Porcello.
Or as some call him, Rick Porch Jello
Yea- they are always posting incorrect info. We don’t work for mlb why do we have to do their research ?
This website isn’t associated with MLB. None of these writers actually work for MLB.
It’s *almost* as if they didn’t say Team ERA but looked at starting rotations. Damn the MLB spin rate aficionados not making this clear to us simple folk.
Long, why don’t you find a different site then.
He is just contributing to the conversation.
No he’s not.
Perhaps, if people actually read the stuff that was written, they might notice that these were the teams with the highest ERAs from their rotations, not the entire pitching staff.
Makes me wonder if these stats are correct. I sent to 3 different sites and each site had different era numbers for a lot of the teams for 2019…….. what the hell???
Connor was only looking at starters’ ERA.
It’s almost like the article says “five starting rotations that posted the highest ERAs last year” as in STARTING ROTATION not team ERA.
Ya, but, why read when you can skim and skip to making snippy comments while providing no substance, amirite???
You seem to be right, yes.
Was gonna say the same thing about the Jays. You can only have so many awful Edwin Jackson, Aaron Sanchez, and Clay Buchholz starts if you don’t wanna qualify for this list I guess.
I was sure the Jays had a bottom 5 rotation last year too. But not gunna campaign to put them on the list.
Maybe we improved so much it would have been too long of an article
I wonder if the move to openers at the end of the season influenced it, as then you had most the innings coming out of the pen
Wrong Jordan Zimmerman linked in the Tiger’s section.
If only he’d spelled it with two n’s he’d have gotten it right. I think, however, the Tigers rather have that guy than Zimmermann.
Correction Chad Khul was out for all of 2019 season and will return this season 2020.
Correct
And Cody Bolton is another stud kid with Keller who should be up. Kuhl could be a difference maker throws 100 as a starter… Pre-TJ anyway we’ll see how he comes back.
Kuhl is back this year ! Who ever wrote this doesn’t know what their talking about.
Bolton may be up but it will be late in the season.
Yes I was going to say also. A healthy kuhl will be great. And keller finished strong last season. He will be a big part of the rotation
angels still might in the 5 era mark this season
not!
This trope isn’t great. There’s a pretty good chance canning and Heaney take a step forward and Ohtani delivers at 80%
That plus two reliable innings eaters is a good rotation. Also Sando has beaten expectations at every stop.
they still need to be healthy, which is far from given with this rotation.
It is not a good rotation.
I’m a White Sox fan and I’m very surprised we didn’t make this list
I’m a White Sox fan and I’m very surprised we didn’t make this list
Thank Giolito
Oh trust me I do. And surprising Nova was solid after no one traded for him at the trade deadline.
Oh trust me I do. And surprising Nova was solid after no one traded for him at the trade deadline.
Jays probably dont have enough starters to qualify for enough of statistical team categories considering how many starters they went thru. Considering what this list has likely been based on. Jays had an AWFUL rotation last year. If they can limit the walks allowed in 2020 to 2/3 of what they did in 2019 it will give them so much more opportunity to improve their horrid record.
I was kind of surprised they didn’t make the list too.
I guess Stroman put up some really nice numbers with them last year before he was traded….. but that was probably all undone by Edwin Jackson’s double digit ERA.
What a mess that rotation was last year.
The moral of this story…. is that there is some really really bad teams out there.
Ok all you Angels haters we didn’t have the worst pitching staff after all … in your face!!! lol
But Angels will be worst in 2020
Only someone clueless will think the Angels will be worse?
Just worst in the league.
If not for coors field, you could’ve had the worst in all of baseball.
Goals for next season….
I was being sarcastic guys!
The Orioles were one of worst rotations last season?
Cough cough cough… I think you forgot flipadelphia.
Right? Saddest part about that is that we’re going into this season with the same guys, plus Wheeler. Hopefully Nols bounces back, Jake is healthy enough to be an innings eater and keep his ERA around 4 and Zack continues to take steps forward with the new coaching regime. Also not too thrilled about letting Vinny and Nick compete for the 5th spot rather than bringing another guy in. Roark, Gio Gonzalez, Tehran, etc. Nols, Wheeler, Arrieta should be a solid 1-2-3 if guys can stay healthy. Here’s to hoping the injury cloud can move away from Philadelphia
A trade I would like to see is Jordan Zimmerman and a (not top) prospect to the Rockies for Wade Davis and Ian Desmond. The Rockies get a sorely needed veteran innings eating starter that could serve as a mentor to the young Rockies rotation and get out of a little money next year. The Tigers get a veteran super utility guy and a bounce back candidate that could easily be their closer back in the familiar AL Central. There could be a prospect or two added on one side or the other, but it seem like it could be ultimate change of scenery deal.
Tigers whole team is a bunch of super utility guys. No need for an expensive closer when not competing. But thanks for playing.
Sure there is a need. You can spend the first 3-4 months rebuilding his value to the point of moving him for a decent prospect. Closers are the hottest properties at the trade deadline.
Or you can watch Jordan Zimmermann sputter along again and get nothing. But thanks for responding.
You just proposed a trade where the Tigers take on 20 million dollars of payroll and give up some kind of prospect for Wade Davis and Ian Desmond. 20 million bucks isn’t an insignificant sum of money. I’m sure the Rockies would love to do that. Tigers? Probably not.
Yes I did. Simply because I believe the combination of Davis and Desmond is worth more than Zimmermann. I also believe there is far more upside with Davis than with Zimmermann. Yes there is more money, but it is spread out further among 2 roster spots instead of 1. And as I said other pieces could be added as well.
What do you realistically think Davis and Desmond get guaranteed if they were FA’s? Maybe 10-11 million bucks combined? That’s probably on the generous side. Davis only has a year and the buyout of an expensive option. Desmond has 2 years. It’s not like you’re spreading this 20 million out over 10 seasons. It’s 2 years and it’s an additional 20 million bucks. They certainly aren’t going to give up a prospect to acquire that. If anything the Rockies would.
Maybe a Davis for Zimmerman swap where they equalize the cash. In that scenario the Rockies could get a small prospect. But if you add Desmond in that makes no sense from Detroit’s perspective whatsoever.
Rockies would do that deal in a heartbeat but not sure the Tigers would.
Keller had that rough debut but overall, his peripherals looked pretty damn good. I think he could be a lead candidate for ROY and be the ace by the end of the season. Love his potential with a new FO and hopeful pitching strategy.
Hopeful that a rotation built around him, Taillon, and Bolton can be good in 2021. I have no hope for this year.
I think Keller and Musgrove will be solid. Musgrove is the perfect 3-4 starter. It’s hard to count on Taillon, but there’s some serious juice in the minors on the way and that makes me excited knowing the new FO is good at developing pitchers.
Guess you’re the first person I’ve read who is excited about the minors. I’m just wondering where that “serious juice” is…single A?
Hopefully someone will teach Keller how to throw his change and spin pitches more effectively. Dropping them dead red, waist high was the recipe for disaster.
Who’s bolton
I celebrate the guys entire catalogue
HAAAAAAA!!! that was the best reply I’ve ever read in these comment sections
He’s a pretty good softball player too. Not sure how that translates to MLB
How about “Worst Divisions”
Update it for 2020.
N.L. Least is back!
The Least! Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson are gone! N.L. Least!
Least!
Least!
Least!
Least!
Least!
National League LEAST
The other two NL divisions are worst considering any of the five teams in the NLC can crash and burn and the only guarantee in the NLW are the Dodgers again.
Now I absolutely see a case for your comment but to say the NL East is by far the worst division is crazy
Cobra, this site would be much better without your posts.
You are super annoying
I don’t think I have ever seen someone so wrong on this Site. First we have the World Series Champions. Who may have lost there 3 hitter but they also lost Harper and won the World Series. They have a top 5 pitcher on the planet. And Brought back Strasburg T
still have a very good offense and if I remember correctly they still have a dam good bullpen. They were like 13 games under 500 in the latter part of May and won 93 games. If there was another 30 games they would of passed the Braves by 10 games. Braves have an amazing offense and added to there bullpen. They have a young man that has a lot of potential they can put at 3rd. Philly is solid Mets are a good team they are not rebuilding or tanking. And the Marlins are the Marlins. So I think The AL central is clearly the worst division with Detroit and KC rebuilding and Cleveland looking towards at least retooling. Minn might of cliched the division with the Josh signing.
Rox were foolish to have cut Melville. he was the only starter really working there for a while.
100% agree. I have a feeling he will be the next Collin McHugh. A guy the Rockies luck upon only to let him go for nothing. Then he breaks out.
Wrong Zimmermann link in the description
any chance Zimmy actually shows a pulse in this, his contract year?
The Angels will be on this list again next year. #fireeppler!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did the Jays come in 6th on this list? How about a 6-10 article?
FIP is a stat I need to get more use to. It’s solid. Growing up, era was the way to go… but I realized pretty young that it didn’t seem to truly capture what a picture did. So I would look at that then WHIP because it would give me a better idea of what I was dealing with overall. FIP likely does that for me in a better way. I like it. Maybe I’m a tad slow to the times with that stat.
It’s pretty solid as long as you don’t act like it’s the be all end all. Just because a pitcher outpitches his FIP doesn’t mean you have to go right to screaming “LUCKY!!!” and “REGRESSION!!!” There are reasons some pitchers constantly out pitch their FIP and others don’t; I’d recommend starting with quality of contact against.
I hear ya. Btw sorry for my typo and poor English. Pitcher not picture lol and then I said “that then”. Lol sometimes I type so fast and don’t think twice
Orioles will top this list next year. Means will likely regress, Cobb can’t be counted on, and the rest is hog wash. It’s gonna be a fun year in Baltimore. You know it’s bad if you feel like you’ll be lucky to get someone like Cashner on board.
The Pirates are a complete disaster at pitching.They really should trade Archer as he sucks.The rest of the pitchers are 4 and 5 starters at best.Their minor league system is in no way ready to be brought up to the majors,but being that they said they are rebuilding it might be a good idea for the second half of the season.Finally they must get rid of Polanco as he will never be worth anything if they wait,he is just a big bust and there’s no reason to hold onto him
Wow I guess Minor and Lynn saved the rangers, cause the rest of our staring expirements were terrible… And the one that did okay was Sampson, and he moved to Japan.
Really glad that Jeff Bridich has made significant strides in addressing the rotation issues for the Rockies.
Really, really glad.