Baltimore Orioles: Three Bounce-Back Free Agent Pitching Options

Can Michael Wacha overcome shoulder issues to contribute with the Baltimore Orioles?

Just on name recognition alone, Michael Wacha may be the most noted free agent pitcher looking to bounce back in 2020. The former first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals made more than $6 million last season, but recorded career-highs in walks (3.91 BB/9 IP) and home runs  (1.85/9 IP) allowed. He was worth -0.2 Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs.

Shoulder injuries played a major role in Wacha struggle’s last season, but he’s 28 and was worth 3.1 WAR as recently as 2017 with the Cardinals. If he can catch on with the right organization and turn things around in 2020, a team in need of shoring up the backend of their rotation is likely to come calling at next year’s deadline.

MLB Trade Rumors projects Wacha signing with the Tigers for $6 million, which seems a bit high. However, it makes a lot of sense for a rebuilding franchise like Detroit or Baltimore to take a flyer on Wacha this winter with his low home run totals, 6’6″ height, highly effective changeup (.199 average against, 39% whiff rate), and respectable groundball numbers (49.5% last season, four points above league average).

In his seven seasons as a big league pitcher, Wacha is 59-39 with a 3.91 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a 1.0 HR/9 IP rate. He’s also averaged eight strikeouts per game. Of course, there are causes for concern.

Shoulder injuries aren’t something you want to be discussing when talking about investing in a starting pitcher, especially when that pitchers’ average fastball velocity has dropped from 95.1 mph to 93 mph since 2017. Wacha’s fastball was hit hard (..324 average, .556 slugging) and produced a career-low 12% whiff rate.

If the Baltimore Orioles are going to go down the route of a veteran coming off an injury during free agency, perhaps this last option would be the better choice.