MLB Free Agency: Which Team Is the Best Fit for Derek Holland?

Pittsburgh Pirates

Like the previous teams on this list, the Pirates rotation ranked in the bottom half of the league this season. They put up a 4.67 ERA as a group, good for just 22nd. A variety of factors played into the disappointing year. Young ace Gerrit Cole was limited to 21 starts due to elbow inflammation, and when he did take the mound his results were well below his earlier standards: 3.88 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 116 innings.

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Aging veterans Francisco Liriano and Jon Niese posted ERAs near or above the 5.00 mark before being traded at the deadline. The main bright spot was top prospect Jameson Taillon, who posted a solid 3.38 ERA in 18 starts this year. He and fellow highly-touted youngsters Tyler Glasnow and Chad Kuhl could have key roles next season.

Combined with a hopefully better year from Cole, the Pirates may have the makings of a promising young staff in 2017. But there are still some age- and injury-related question marks there. On the surface, someone like Holland doesn’t appear to help much in either regard. But the Pirates have a secret weapon on their side: pitching coach Ray Searage.

Searage has become renowned for his work with reclamation pitchers, helping guys who have veered off track to rediscover the potential they showed earlier in their careers. A.J. Burnett and J.A. Happ are two of his more prominent recent success stories. And though it’s a small sample size, Ivan Nova‘s staggering transformation after being acquired from the Yankees can’t be ignored either.

Next: Top Landing Spots for Greg Holland

The Pirates would surely like to re-sign Nova, but there are no guarantees there, especially in this market. Holland is a risk, but he could prove a decent (and much less expensive) alternative, especially if the team is confident that Searage can work his magic on him. Overall, Pittsburgh feels like the best fit for Holland at the moment: a club with a modest budget, clear rotation need and a coach with a compelling track record who can work with him.

Where do you think Holland should end up? Sound off in the comment section below.