Potential Pirates Trade Targets: 2023 Star Closer Looking to Rebound

This is one in a series of examining potential trade targets for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2024-25 offseason.

David Bednar was tied for the National League lead in saves in 2023 with 39. The person he was tied with? Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants.

Doval began his big-league career with the Giants in 2021 and it didn’t take long to establish himself as the team’s closer. The right-hander finished his rookie season with a 3.00 ERA and three saves across 29 relief appearances and struck out 37 batters in 27 innings.

The following season, Doval recorded 27 saves to go along with an even-better 2.53 ERA while totaling 68 appearances out of the bullpen.

Then in 2023, Doval cemented himself as one of the game’s top closers, leading the league in games finished as well as tying Bednar in saves. Doval went 6-6 with a 2.93 ERA and struck out 87 batters in 67.2 innings while allowing just three home runs and holding opponents to a .209 batting average.

But Doval’s smooth sailing became rocky this past season in the Bay. Though the 27-year-old still recorded 23 saves, his ERA ballooned to 4.88, by far the worst mark of his career. Walks became an issue with a career-high 39 despite falling short of 60 innings.

While the initial reaction would be of major concern given the spotty showing, there are still plenty of reasons to believe all is not lost.

Though Doval posted a 4.88 ERA, his FIP was over a point lower at 3.71. That serves as a good indication that he was a bit unlucky, even if he still wasn’t as effective as he was over the first couple of seasons of his career.

Doval’s strikeout totals also remained healthy with 78 in 59 innings and his 28.8 strikeout percentage was was more or less on par with his career numbers.

Doval’s pitch mix is interesting. His power sinker, which averages about 98 mph, graded as an effective pitch in 2023 but was very ineffective in both 2022 and this past season. His slider, however, is consistently graded as one of the better ones in the league the past three seasons.

While the Giants might not be eager to move Doval after a disappointing season, they could look to move the $4.6 million he’s projected to earn through arbitration.

If they do decide to move on, the Pittsburgh Pirates could pair him with Bednar in the back of the bullpen and give the team a high-risk, high-reward combination with two former top closers looking to rebound in 2025.