The Pirates designated left-hander Steven Brault for assignment before the lockout began, with Brault electing free agency shortly thereafter. The rebuilding club could feasibly re-sign Brault and fit him into their plans for 2022, but Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic doesn’t think that’s likely. He quotes general manager Ben Cherington as saying he’ll “keep the door open” to bringing the lefty back, but that “The health has gotten in the way the last couple of years.”
Brault missed about a month in 2019 with a shoulder strain but managed to stay healthy for the shortened 2020 campaign. Over those two seasons, he threw 156 innings with a 4.67 ERA, seeming like a decent rotation piece for a rebuilding club to have on hand. Unfortunately, 2021 wasn’t kind to the southpaw, as he spent much of the season on the IL and only made seven starts in the big leagues. He’s still only 29 years old, turning 30 in April, meaning another team could give him a chance to log some innings and show his health, even if it might not be the Pirates. He has between four and five years’ service time, which means a team that signs him and sees him round back into form could control him through 2023, as long as the service time rules remain unchanged in the next CBA.
More news from the Central divisions…
- Much like Brault, Reds prospect Nick Lodolo also had an injury-plagued season in 2021. The 23-year-old was only able to make 13 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this year due to a blister as well as a shoulder strain. However, he seems to be on track for a healthy start to 2022, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. He spoke to Reds farm director Shawn Pender, who says he reached out to Lodolo about two weeks ago “just to check in, say hello and how are you doing. He says, ’Gosh, I feel great. I guess all that strength and conditioning helped me, and the time off. I feel really up to the task of coming back ready to go,’ so that’s all been positive.” That’s surely good news for Reds fans, as Lodolo could be an important contributor in 2022, if healthy. The 7th overall selection of the 2019 draft, Lodolo is one of the most highly-touted prospects in the game, being ranked as the 89th-best prospect in baseball by FanGraphs, coming in at #31 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 and 23rd on Baseball America’s list. The Reds’ rotation has a strong front three in Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle, but all three have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors in recent months, as the Reds are apparently looking to reduce payroll. If those rumors prove true and any of that trio is moved, it would enhance the likelihood of Lodolo being able to make the jump to the big leagues in the coming season.
- Terry Francona stepped away from his managerial duties in Cleveland at the end of July to undergo a hip replacement and foot surgery, leaving DeMarlo Hale in charge for the latter parts of the 2021 campaign. Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com provides an update, saying that Francona “should be off crutches in the next few weeks.” In September, team president Chris Antonetti said “We continue to plan looking at ’22 with Tito as our manager. If at some point that changes, we’re going to have to reconsider and relook at things at that point. But we have no reason to think that will be the case.” Based on this most recent update, it appears everything is still on track for Francona to return to health and to the dugout in 2022.
Brault was a cool guy, but he struggles with command and doesn’t get enough K’s to offset it. It also doesn’t help that durability isn’t one of his strong suits.
Chad Kuhl had better results than Brault and they let Kuhl go. I was surprised by the move because Pittsburgh needs arms at the moment and Kuhl hasn’t been horrible. They can easily plug him into the rotation as a 4th or 5th starter. My patience wore out with Brault this year. He starts off alright for 2-3 months and tails off. I wish him the best where ever he goes. Maybe some overseas work could get his mind in the right spot. He looks like a top of the rotation starter one minute, and then a AA pitcher trying to prove their worth and promotion. Watch, Rays will sign him and turn him into a stud. Morton, Glasnow, and others thrived in Tampa.
Peters Brubaker Thompson Quintana Crowe Keller Kranick Contreras Yajure. 9 starting mlb ready pitchers on the 40 man. Pirates needed roster space, not arms. If Tampa adds 5mph to Brault then excellent for them. I don’t see him being the next Glasnow Morton.
God bless Tito….I’m not a Cleveland fan but the man is a true pro and a helluva manager.
I’ll never forgive him for allowing Trevor Bauer to hit Kinsler in the head and aim at VMart’s knee in retaliation for Kinsler hurting Carasco with a line drive up the middle a week or two earlier. All he could offer as an excuse was that Bauer was “a little wild” that day, having only thrown first-pitch strikes to something like 21 of 27 batters. Tito could have taken him out rather than letting him hit two more, but he obviously had zero concern for the health of another team. It was a meaningless game as the Indians had all but seen up the division. Enjoy Karma, Tito, just like classy Bauer is enjoying his!
I mean, Franconas health status is certainly career threatening and even a bit life threatening. But yeah sure, that’s justified by something that happened 5 years ago…
seems like you’re missing some information there. of all the things to retaliate for, line drives up the middle aren’t among them. if Bauer was retaliating for something and Tito supported it, I am certain a line drive up the middle isn’t the reason
You should see a therapist ASAP.
Sid, you might want to see excerpts from that game before judging. I know what I saw.
Bauer gave Kinsler a concussion, hit two more guys and almost another one, but was left in the game.
Bauer then got hit with a line drive to the ankle that ended a season
Get well in time for the season, Tito!! best wishes amigo
Is it Tito or Terry? I thought Terry had a brother named Tito?
Father was Tito. Should use Terry to avoid confusion.
I guess if anyone signs Brault, maybe they could move him to the pen and see how things workout.
Reds need let the reigns go on Lodolo and Greene. It is frustrating watching other teams like the Braves play their young players while they are young. Reds prospects do not see the majors until they are 24 or 25. Greens was a high school player but Lodolo played college ball. Look at what India did. But India would not have played this year if Max Schrock would not have gotten hurt in Spring Training.
Drew Waters is fuming at this comment.
Let the reins go on Lodolo? He got all of 18 innings in 2019 after being drafted, which is commonplace with first round draft choices. The pandemic wiped out minor-league baseball in 2020. He couldn’t stay healthy in 2021, managing to pitch only 50 innings. Yeah, what he needed was MORE innings, despite the injuries, and in MLB (smh). He is still only 23, so the Reds might want to start his control clock when he can actually give them a decent amount of innings.
Greene had this thing called TJ surgery, and after a year and a half had some struggles in AAA. Much like Lodolo, you don’t throw an injured player, or one coming back from a significant injury, into the Majors for the first time.
The comparison to India is a bad one.
Could be a decent idea for the Phillies to take a flyer on Kuhl or Brault for depth.
heck, get both while you’re at it.
Kuhl can pitch a under 5 era. Under 4 if someone can improve his control. Brault was a solid 5. Wasn’t the same last year after injury. Would some time off and a full spring training help? Lots options out there. I thought Philly should have been on Anderson or Kuhl middle of last July.
they were about to get Anderson and then Cherington backed out 11th hour.
Get well Soon
Tito had bad knees as a player. Wonder how many times he’s undergone the knife?
Steven Brault would be a great pick up for the Giants. After what they’ve done to revitalize the careers of multiple starters, he would be a nice reclamation project for them.
Kuhl was better than Brault, at least he was average. Brault is at that tier between long reliever and fifth starter.
how much money does Terry Francona make to manage Cleveland?
That’s private.