The Pirates might lose a pitcher before the season even starts, and it’s all because of a contract clause that’s now working against them.
Joe La Sorsa has triggered his upward mobility clause after Pittsburgh told him he won’t make the Opening Day roster. That clause essentially puts the 27-year-old lefty on the market for the other 29 teams.
Here’s how it works: Since La Sorsa isn’t getting a roster spot with the Pirates, any other team can claim him. If that happens, Pittsburgh has to either give him a spot themselves or trade him to whoever wants him. If nobody bites, then he heads to the minors.
Ari Alexander broke the news on this contract wrinkle that could cost the Pirates a pitcher.
La Sorsa isn’t exactly a proven commodity at the big league level. He’s thrown just 57 career MLB innings across stints with the Rays, Nationals, and Reds, posting a 5.21 ERA. Not great numbers.
But there’s reason to think someone might take a flyer on him.
He spent most of last season at Triple-A and posted a solid 2.59 ERA. Plus, he got some international exposure pitching for Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic, where he threw 2.2 innings for the tournament’s surprise squad.
Left-handed pitching is always in demand, especially from teams looking for depth or bullpen help. La Sorsa’s age works in his favor too – at 27, he’s still got time to develop.
The Pirates find themselves in an awkward spot. They clearly don’t think La Sorsa fits their plans, but they might lose him for nothing if another team sees value they don’t.
It’s not clear yet which teams might be interested, but upward mobility clauses exist for exactly this reason. Players want options when organizations don’t see them as roster-worthy.
For La Sorsa, it’s a chance to find a team that believes in his potential. For Pittsburgh, it’s a reminder that contract language can sometimes work against you when you’re trying to manage your roster.
The next few days will show whether anyone else in the league thinks La Sorsa is worth claiming.
