Bucs agree with LHP García, RHP Velasquez (source)

SAN DIEGO — The Pirates have reached agreements with left-handed pitcher Jarlín García and right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez, a supply instructed MLB.com.

García’s deal is for one 12 months and can be price $2.5 million, with a $3.25 membership possibility for 2024, per supply. Velasquez’s deal can also be for one 12 months and can be price $3.15 million. Both offers, which haven’t been confirmed by the membership, are pending a bodily.

García, who turns 30 in January, posted a 3.74 ERA and 4.27 FIP in 65 innings with the Giants in 2022. Since ’20, García owns a 2.84 ERA and three.90 FIP with 138 strikeouts in 152 innings.

Velasquez, 30, had a 4.78 ERA and 4.25 FIP throughout 75 1/3 innings, making 9 begins and 18 aid appearances in 2022 for the White Sox. The righty started the season in Chicago’s rotation, however he transitioned to the bullpen after a stint on the injured checklist in June.

García fills a positional want: a left-handed pitcher. Coming into the Winter Meetings, the Pirates didn’t have a single left-handed pitcher on their 40-man roster. In November, the Bucs outrighted Eric Stout — he would elect free company — and designated Manny Bañuelos for task, eradicating the group’s solely two lefties.

The signings of García and Velasquez are the most recent strikes in what has been an lively winter for Pittsburgh. Along with the relievers, the Pirates acquired Ji-Man Choi from the Rays, signed Carlos Santana to a one-year, $6.725 million deal and traded Kevin Newman to the Reds for right-hander Dauri Moreta. 

“We felt like coming out of this season, as difficult as it was, we now have a group of young players that have matriculated onto the Major League team, or started to, or are close to doing that as we look into next year,” stated normal supervisor Ben Cherington. “So relative to two years ago, the total number of players who are either touching our Major League roster or are getting close, we just see as much larger. We just feel like this is the time to start to complement that group.”