Pirates Claim Olson

[love_that_reefer]

The Pirates claimed Garrett Olson off of waivers from the Mariners, the teams have announced.

Olsen, 27, posted a 4.54 ERA with 7.4 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 and a 37.1% ground ball rate in 37 2/3 innings of relief for the Mariners last year. It was his second season in Seattle after two seasons with the Orioles, the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2005 draft.

Olson figures to compete with Joe Beimel and Scott Olsen for left-handed relief jobs in manager Clint Hurdle's bullpen once he arrives in Pirates camp. Kirby Arnold of the Daily Herald first reported the claim.

Not a bad pickup at all considering Beimel might not be ready and that Olsen might go elsewhere when he doesn't make the rotation.

[missionhockey21]

Olson had some crazy home/away splits. 6.27 ERA at home versus 2.84 away. Could be attributed to bad luck, wrong situation, or both... but interesting. Given his age and a decent K/9 last year, he seems like the type that could develop into an effective LH relief option.