For this fourth part of the Pirates off-season, I will talk about Kevin Correia. As always I will start with the Wikipedia info.
”He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2003, Correia became the first player taken in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft to reach the major leagues, and in 2004, Baseball America named him the organization’s #6 prospect. Correia split the 2004 and 2005 seasons between the Giants and the minor leagues, and making 12 big league starts and 16 relief appearances between the two seasons.
Going into the 2006 season, Correia competed for the Giants’ fifth starter spot with Brad Hennessey and Jamey Wright. Although Correia pitched well in spring training, Wright eventually won the spot, and Correia began the season in Triple-A with the Fresno Grizzlies. Correia was called up to the Giants in April due to injuries and poor performance by the team’s bullpen, and was primarily used in middle relief.
Correia rejoined the Giants’ starting rotation in August 2007. After seven starts (40 innings), he had a 1.80 ERA. In 2008, Correia was mostly a starter, but had a 6.05 ERA during the season and became a free agent after the season.
In 2009, Correia had a slow start, with an ERA above 5.00+. Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley began tweaking his delivery. In June, Correia started to lower his ERA. With the pitchers Jake Peavy and Chris Young on the DL, Correia soon became the ace for the Padres. On June 10, Correia only allowed one run through six strong innings against the potent Dodgers offense. On September 25, 2009, Correia allowed six hits and struck out seven batters in a complete game shutout versus the Arizona Diamondbacks; the first of his career. On December 12, 2009, Correia re-signed for a one year, 3 million dollar contract. On May 9, 2010, he was scratched from a start after his younger brother, Trevor, died after falling from a 60-foot cliff while hiking on Santa Cruz Island, Barbara coastline.”
On December 7 2010, the Pirates signed Correia to a 2 year deal worth $8 million. Am I excited about Correia, not really, as he was kicked out of the Padres rotation, however the option in the bottom end of the Pirates rotation include Charlie Morton and Brad Lincoln and Correia is an upgrade to both of them and Huntington was able to get Correia at a decent price. Correia likely will john Paul Maholm, James McDonald and Ross Ohlendorf in the rotation with Morton and Scott Olsen likely the front runners for the fifth and final spot in the rotation. It is true that Correia has a career record of 36-43 with an ERA of 4.57.
I appreciate the effort that the Pirates made to pick up a genuine starter and it must have been tough to lose Jorge De La Rosa, but it appears that Jeff Francis and others are still on the market so there are still options to improve the overall look of the rotation. This was a move that definitely helped shape the rotation and give it another arm that Pitching Coach Ray Searage can work with.
Zac’s Grade: B-
