Perrotto: Pirates’ Small Investment on Big Man Vogelbach Pays Off
Spending $1 million doesn’t get you a whole lot in the world of Major League Baseball.
However, the Pirates got their $1 million worth from Daniel Vogelbach before trading him to the New York Mets on Friday night for rookie reliever Colin Holderman. In fact, the Pirates didn’t even pay him the full million.
The Pirates signed the burly designated hitter as a free agent March 15, nearly a week after the 99-day lockout ended, to a one-year, $1-million contract. The deal called for an $800,000 salary this season and a $1.5-million team option for 2023 with a $200,000 buyout.
The Mets are now on the hook for the remainder of the $800,000 this year and the buyout.
That is pocket change to the Mets and owner Steve Cohen, who is considered the richest man in MLB. For the Pirates, a franchise always looking to pinch pennies, every dollar counts.
That is why the Pirates couldn’t be happier how well the low risk signing turned out.
Vogelbach hit .228/.338/.430 with 12 home runs and a team-high 34 RBIs in 75 games. Not great statistics but his 117 OPS+ meant he was a 17% better hitter than the league average.
“That guy can navigate an at-bat as good as anyone in baseball,” Pirates left fielder Ben Gamel said. “Always had a plan, never unprepared and was always ready to play. Whether it was a late-inning at-bat or he was getting four or five at-bats a game, he was the same guy and you could count on him to give you as good an at-bat as anyone.”
Baseball people like to call players like Vogelbach a “professional hitter.”
However, in the long run, Vogelbach’s biggest contribution during his 75-game stay with the Pirates might be the impact he made in a young clubhouse. The 29-year-old made an immediate – and perhaps lasting – impression with his teammates.
“He’s into every at-bat,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “He’s into every pitch. He loves the game. Studies pitchers. Is always talking about that.”
“The really good offenses I’ve been around have a lot of that in the clubhouse, in the dugout, just talking about hitting, talking about the pitcher that you’re trying to beat. That’s something Vogey did a lot of. Hopefully it rubs off. You need that on a good team.”
The Pirates also got back a Major League ready pitcher in Holderman, a 26-year-old who made his big league debut May 15. He was 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 15 games with the Mets.
Baseball America ranked Holderman as the Mets’ 19th-best prospect.
Manager Derek Shelton believes the younger players learned the importance for being ready for anything during a game from Vogelbach.
“I think he prepares really well,” Shelton said. “You don’t do the DH thing without preparing really well, especially if you’re doing it at a high level. I’m hoping that the guys something out of that.”
If they do, then the small amount of money the Pirates invested in Vogelbach will pay even greater dividends.
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