Pirates sign Kyle Farnsworth to minor league deal
By Brad Rowland
One week ago, veteran relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth was being designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays. On Friday, he has landed on his feet professionally by signing a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Farnsworth, who is now 37 years old, struggled mightily in limited innings for Tampa Bay this season. He produced a woeful 5.76 ERA through 29.2 innings, and in the process, struggled to a career-low strikeout rate of 5.76 batters per 9 innings.
Normally, a declining strikeout rate can be a sign of diminished stuff, but on the bright side for Farnsworth, he wasn’t relying on devastating velocity or movement at this stage of his career. However, the Pirates inking of him to a minor league contract only doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that he will help them toward the playoffs in the stretch run.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen has been an unabashed success this season, but with that said, Farnsworth could provide veteran insurance to a group of players who haven’t “been there before”. However, he may never appear in an actual Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, and that is a necessary caveat to reporting this agreement.
In the meantime, Farnsworth will report to triple-A Indianapolis in order to search for his stuff in hopes of a return. I would go as far as to say that Pittsburgh is probably hoping to never “need” Farnsworth, but if they call on him, the veteran should be ready.