A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team.
CLEVELAND SPIDERS ACQUIRE CHRIS NABHOLZ AND BRIAN L. HUNTER FROM THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES FOR BERNARD GILKEY AND STERLING HITCHCOCK
The Cleveland Spiders’ starting rotation has no shortage of name recognition. From veterans like Bret Saberhagen and Masaki Saito to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and comeback story Ron Robinson, Cleveland’s staff is deep—but inconsistent. The problem? No true frontline presence and far too many starts ending with four earned runs or more.
Why It Makes Sense for Cleveland
The Spiders entered 1995 with playoff aspirations and a rotation built on high-variance arms. They left the season 75-87, with a collective starters’ ERA of 5.02 — among the worst in the Federal League. Their rotation’s best ERA belonged to Ron Robinson (4.68), while Masaki Saito (5.16) and Tim Wakefield (5.83) were downright shaky.
In Nabholz, the Spiders add an ace starter with ace-level durability. The 28-year-old lefty is coming off a stellar 1995 season for Pittsburgh:
- 32 GS | 15-8 | 3.08 ERA | 245.1 IP | 205 K | 6.1 WAR
- Ranked 7th in DBL WAR among pitchers and 4th in ERA
- Tossed 4 complete game shutouts
- Kept hitters to a .260 BABIP and just 15 HR allowed across more than 1,000 batters faced
Nabholz’s profile isn’t flashy—he works with a heavy 90-92 MPH sinker, a curve, and a change—but his movement (OSA grade: 18/18) makes him a rock-solid innings eater. He also dominated righties (.588 OPS against), a key need for Cleveland’s rotation.
Plus, he’s battle-tested, having thrown over 1,300 career innings with a career 4.02 ERA. Adding Brian Hunter as a speedy fourth outfielder also gives Cleveland insurance behind the starters. Moving Gilkey also allows Garret Anderson to get full playing time.
While Nabholz was dominant, Pittsburgh’s front office seems eager to add offense. In this deal, they land two controllable assets:
- OF Bernard Gilkey, who posted a strong .258/.330/.468 line with 30 doubles, 20 HR, 101 R, and 3.4 WAR in 1995
- SP Sterling Hitchcock, a 24-year-old lefty with back-end starter potential and team control for multiple seasons
Gilkey gives the Pirates a starting outfielder with a solid mix of power, patience, and defense—something they sorely lacked down the stretch. Hitchcock, while inconsistent, has flashed back of the rotation stuff and is younger and cheaper than Nabholz. For a team ready to retool, it’s a future-focused but not punting move.
Trade Balance and Upside
For Cleveland, this is about raising the floor of a rotation that too often let the game get away by the 4th inning. Nabholz instantly becomes their most reliable starter, capable of matching up with any ace in the Federal League on a good day. He’s the rare pitcher who can throw 8 strong without relying on strikeouts—and he’s under contract in his prime.
For Pittsburgh, it’s about buying low on a potential bounce-back starter in Hitchcock and gaining a starting outfielder with above-average production in Gilkey. Considering Nabholz and Gilkey are extension eligible, it won’t impact the long-term plans that both teams have already been making.