Yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates brought in their latest reclamation project in the form of right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson. Masterson fits the Pirate mold of being a groundball pitcher, but he has hit one heck of a rough patch in recent years.
From 2010 through 2013 Masterson pitched 795 1/3 innings for the Cleveland Indians. In those 795 1/3 innings Masterson posted a 3.67 FIP, 3.75 xFIP, 7.4 K/9, 0.6 HR/9, and a 57% groundball rate. Masterson also accumulated a WAR of 12.4 during this four year stretch.
The last two years however have been a real struggle for Masterson.