Trevor Williams has elected free agency over accepting an assignment to Triple-A, per John Dreker of Pirates Prospects (via Twitter). Williams was designated for assignment last week and largely assumed to choose free agency given his role in the Pirates rotation the last four seasons.
All told, Williams has been a steadying presence in the Buccos rotation since 2017, making a total of 93 starts spanning 522 innings with a 4.34 ERA/4.52 FIP, 7.0 K/9 to 3.0 BB/9, and 2.07 bWAR per 200 frames. The 28-year-old has mostly taken the backseat in the public eye to higher profile arms the likes of Tyler Glasnow and Chris Archer, however.
Williams best work came in 2017 and 2018. Last season was a low-point for Williams as he struggled to a 6.18 ERA/6.30 FIP in 55 1/3 innings over 11 starts. His strikeout rate actually increased to a career-high 19.4 K%, but his command wandered as well as his walk rate climbed to 8.3 BB%. The bigger issue for Williams was keeping the ball in the ballpark. He surrendered an ML-leading 15 home runs in 2020 despite the launch angle and exit velocity of opposing hitters decreasing from the previous season.
Very interesting guy to bring aboard for any organization. He can be great in the right organization. I’ll say Tampa Bay or Oakland.
He’ll take over for Charlie.
Someone like the Rangers will roll the dice on a minor league deal for him.
Yep, maybe even a major league deal.
Uh, no.
Blue jays. Throw’em in then the pen/opener and see what happens
There you go Blue Jays. Trevor Williams is now available. No need to give up the prospects you Jays fans were willing to part with for the great Trevor Williams.
Head case.
Williams? He’s definitley not a headcase.
Dude can’t handle criticism at all. Blocks MLB writers on Twitter based off an article they write/post about him.
You, my man, should not live your life cooped up in Twitter. Get out and live your life.
@mlb1225
Wondering if you have an explanation as to how his exit velo & launch angle could both decrease while his HR/9 spiked.
That seems really strange to me.
High FB/HR ratio. His xFIP (which takes HR’s into account) has his performance from 2020 rated around a 4.80 equivalence, which is certainly valuable for a back-end controllable innings eater.
I’ll buy that.
Still…it’s really counterintuitive to me that would be at a career high level while his EV & LA actually *decreased*. That’s weird. Barrels?
Makes me think he’s one of those positive regression candidates. I get it. That’s perhaps as an average/above average #4 possible average/slightly above average #3 starter when taking his innings into account. So not the sexiest profile.
Yet something, which is – as you note – certainly valuable.
I feel like I must be missing something pretty important here, though. The Pirates have to see the same stuff.
You’re an idiot.
He’s smart enough to have gotten out of that Pittsburgh dumpster fire.
Correct…. but which dumpster fire is next?
The dude has upside despite the “head case” BS he’s labeled with.
He’d tool in DC, without being a tool.
Baseballpun-The “dumpster fire” non tendered him,not the other way around.How many four year veterans would accept a minor league designation?Not many.
He was not real highly rated as a minor leaguer,but pitched effiectively his first two years for the Pirates ,and especially in the last half of 2018.His last two years,though,have been pretty bad.Which pitcher is he?
I am pretty sure that he will get a ML contract and a chance in a decent organization,but it behooves him to make good on it as chances will begin to dwindle eventually.
Padres
I read Mitch Williams at first….had to do a double take!
May fit right in in his hometown of San Diego.
Interesting swing man option for a bullpen for sure.
Coming back home to
his San Diego Padres!!! 2021 RO as follows: Lamet, Davies, Williams, Gore, Paddack
I bet he gets a major league deal. Has dmonstrated consistent health if little else.
Perfect low hanging fruit. I predict he will be wearing Cardinal red next year.
This guy will have his pick of major league offers. My prediction is that he takes the most money offered to him regardless of what team it is. Wouldn’t that be shocking?
He might get a $750K – $1M guarantee with incentives that could earn him up to $2M if he hits them all. Don’t see any team paying him much more than that based on his last two seasons and how badly he has regressed.
Your username is elite and your assessment seems exceptionally accurate.