WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
R+:  2-1-0, 6.43 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 21.0 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
A:  2-5-0, 6.30 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, 64.1 IP, 6.2 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Valiquette was very raw when he signed out of Canada, too late to play in 2004.  So raw, in fact, that he spoke only limited English.  The Reds nevertheless tried him in 2005 in full season ball, mostly as a starter.  It obviously didn’t go well and Valiquette didn’t do all that much better in seven games at the advanced rookie level.

2006
A:  2-4-0, 7.54 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 37.0 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

Valiquette went back to low A and continued to struggle, still mainly as a starter.  He went AWOL during the season, a result of homesickness, and he didn’t return until the following year.

2007
R+:  3-1-3, 1.77 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 40.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
A:  1-2-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

After returning, Valiquette got into limited action back in advanced rookie ball, where he did well, and low A, where he didn’t.  The Reds used him strictly in relief; he hasn’t started a game since 2006.

2008
A:  0-1-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 26.0 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
A+:  2-2-2, 3.92 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 39.0 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 7.6 K/9

Valiquette made significant progress in low A, allowing far fewer baserunners and posting his first good K rate.  He didn’t fare as well in high A after a promotion.

2009
A+:  1-1-6, 2.29 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 8.7 K/9
AA:  1-1-3, 2.76 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 5.5 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

Valiquette had his best year as a pro, mostly dominating in low A and pitching decently in high A.

2010
AA:  2-0-4, 3.99 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 29.1 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
AAA:  2-1-1, 4.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 35.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Valiquette split his time between AA and AAA, pitching much better at the higher level.

2011
Did not play

Due to a torn pectoral muscle, Valiquette missed the entire season.  The Reds released him in mid-August and he signed with the Mariners five days later.

2012
A+:  0-0-0, 4.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9
AA:  0-1-0, 8.49 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 3.1 K/9

Seattle released Valiquette at the end of spring training, before he’d ever pitched in a game with then.  The Brewers signed him in late April and he was able to get into 16 games, although the results weren’t good.

Valiquette obviously is a long shot for the Pirates, but probably worth a try due to the scarcity of hard-throwing lefties.  He could open at any level from high A to AAA, depending on how he looks in spring training.