The Pittsburgh Pirates bolstered their bullpen Monday night by signing 33-year-old left-handed pitcher Tim Mayza to a major-league deal, pending a physical, as confirmed by a source to TribLive. Mayza, a seasoned veteran with 367 MLB appearances, had a challenging 2023 season, posting a 6.33 ERA over 50 games split between the Toronto Blue Jays (35 games) and New York Yankees (15 games). After being designated for assignment by Toronto midseason, he joined the Yankees, where he recorded a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings. Mayza elected free agency in November following his stint with the Yankees.
Despite his struggles last year, Mayza has been a reliable reliever for much of his career, particularly during his time with the Blue Jays. In 2023, he excelled with a 1.52 ERA over 69 innings, notching 22 holds, 53 strikeouts, and 15 walks. His strong performances continued in previous seasons, including an 8-1 record with a 3.14 ERA in 2022 and a 5-2 record with a 3.40 ERA and a career-low 0.98 WHIP in 2021. Over his career, Mayza, a 12th-round pick by Toronto in the 2013 MLB Draft, holds a 20-9 record with a 3.88 ERA across 301 2/3 innings.
According to Statcast, Mayza primarily relies on two pitches: a sinker, which he throws about 72% of the time, and a slider, used 27% of the time. The Pirates are hopeful his experience and past success will strengthen their bullpen moving forward.
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