While all of the talk out of the Pirates in the past few days has centered on outfielder Bryan Reynolds wanting a trade out of Pittsburgh, the team remains focused on additions. Per a report from Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic, pitching is a priority for Pittsburgh, and general manager Ben Cherington has the budget to potentially acquire two veteran starters.
“I don’t know if we will, but we could if we wanted to or the right matches lined up,” Cherington said.
The Bucs were reportedly interested in adding Kyle Gibson before he wound up signing a one-year, $10MM deal with the Orioles. It’s unknown whether or not the Pirates got to the point of making an offer to Gibson, but their interest there can be used to identify potential other targets, and Biertempfel names Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarbrough as possible options.
Roansy Contreras and Mitch Keller are both penciled into the top two spots in Pittsburgh’s rotation. Contreras flashed some quality stuff in his rookie year, while Keller put together his best season with the Pirates, making 29 starts and pitching to a 3.91 ERA. JT Brubaker is the other name who will certainly return as a back-of-the-rotation arm.
Outside of that trio, the Pirates have Bryse Wilson, Johan Oviedo and Zach Thompson as options. They also have a number of pitching prospects breaking into the upper-minors, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Luis Ortiz, Quinn Priester, Kyle Nicholas or Mike Burrows are part of the picture at some point next year.
Nonetheless, a veteran addition to stabilize things makes plenty of sense. Cherington’s comments certainly don’t sound like it’s likely that the team signs two veteran starters, but at least one should arrive. Biertempfel’s report also notes that Cherington is willing to consider the trade market for options, as well as looking into multi-year deals.
Pittsburgh’s had a lot of success with low-profile additions to their rotation in recent years. In 2021, they signed Tyler Anderson to a one-year, $2.5MM deal and flipped him to Seattle at the deadline for prospects Carter Bins and Joaquin Tejada. This year, Jose Quintana joined on a one-year, $2MM pact, he excelled and the Pirates were able to get Oviedo and Malcolm Nunez from the Cardinals at the deadline. Another deal with a low-cost addition that the Pirates can potentially turn into a trade chip at the deadline seems likely next season as well.
Either a lopsided trade for a mediocre overpaid pitcher or, in this market, $10M for a $4M pitcher, $20M for an $8M pitcher, etc.
There will be value and good chance the Pirates find it.
Jordan Lyles will be returning to the Pirates this offseason
A reunion of sorts
You may be right, but Yarbrough’s career stats look much better and he’s two years younger and a LHP. That’s our guy.
I was referring to the price more than talent or age
Yarborough will probably demand more in salary than what Nutting’s willing to pay
whelp you called it..
they ended up paying 3 mil to a 800k guy
Must be tough having such great options to choose from
Yankees have pitchers! Send Reynolds in over…..
The Bucs have pitchers too, several will be promoted during the season, as they were last year to make spot starts
Chances are, Reynolds doesn’t get traded until next year at the deadline.
If he was going to be traded, a deal would have happened already. Teams apparently aren’t willing to give up what Cherington is asking.
Hmmmmm….
There are some good arms in that projected rotation. I understand the desire for a veteran, but a little luck plus a some slight improvement could yield a surprising result from the Pirates’ starters. I’m more concerned about the defense behind them. They weren’t good at all up the middle this past season. That can have a big impact on young pitchers’ confidence.
I don’t see Cruz staying at SS, but perhaps he makes it work. Just seems like too much body for that position.
I don’t get their insistence on keeping him at short. I see it as a roadblock to overall progress.
He can stick at ss for awhile. The new 1b will help. Improve his accuracy some and he will be fine enough. If he doesn’t or they get a better option he will be moved.
I feel like they traded a better option in Newman.
If they move Cruz to RF, it dovetails perfectly with my plan for them to sign Jason Heyward. Heyward becomes Cruz’ daddy/caddy. Heyward knows exactly what it’s like to be a big, young, toolsy prospect with sky high expectations. He also excels at the finer points of defense and baserunning that Cruz needs work on. He can teach Cruz everything he knows, provide a defensive replacement in the late innings, and give him a day off against a tough righty once a week. Perfect if Cruz takes advantage of it.
I like Newman defensively even with a lack of range. But that bat at ss destroys Newman as long as they can find 700 ops outfielders. Regardless I trade Newman for that reliever every time.
If cheap enough. A coach is still cheaper than any player. Pirates even without Reynolds have 2 young outfielders that need to start. Andujar needs abs. A handful of guys who will need a final evaluation this season.
Agreed.
What makes Heyward more valuable than a coach is the same thing that makes him hated in Chicago. Players sometimes tune out coaches who are lifetime try hard but never made its. Heyward has what all young players want. He is RICH. I would think young players would be inclined to listen to/relate with a guy like Heyward. He is more impactful as a mentor than say Ben Gamel or VanMeter.
Reynolds raved about Gamel and was around when the Pirates had veteran players so that’s saying something. I don’t mind it but don’t see Cruz moving to the outfield this year.
Are you saying Newman was a better option than Cruz? If so, just defensively or overall?
Defensively.
Cruz has resisted moving to another position in the recent past, it’s unlikely he would be convinced to do so now.
there’s no way Nutting will approve several million dollars to an over the hill part time player
It’s not their insistence, it’s his insistence. It will have to change. He believes he’s a ss
For Heyward? I believe the Cubs are still paying him.
What’s more likely is Nutting tells Cherington what he’s allowed to spend on payroll and he fills out a roster as he sees fit. The problem is the minuscule budget only allows for dumpster diving during the Hot Stove season.
As a delusional fan, I’m holding out hope they sign Sean Manaea. But the 58-year old realist in me knows this is purely a pipe dream.
So, the Pirates would be able to get him for near minimum salary. I like the idea of them getting him as a mentor/player in rf. He can also play a serviceable CF.. he still has a stronbuck. And runs pretty well.. even the shift restrictions help him a bit.. I used to yell at my TV screen as he always grounded out to the right side. As a pure rf/cf utility player/mentor for minimum salary he would be a good get for the bucs.
Andujar needs abs? I’m sure there’s a 6-pack hiding under that outer layer of insulation.
If you have to convince a player at Cruz’s age and experience, you’ve got a problem.
Understanding the owner and his penny pinching process, Newman’s arbitration win was too much money for the franchise to spend when Cruz has a better upside in the lineup than Newman
Newman hit 1 home run last year compared to Cruz’ 17 and half the games
Watch Newman hit 15 HRs at Great American
I would move him to LF or 3B in the future.
Cruz’ height allowed him to easily jump for balls hit over his head where players like Newman couldn’t reach and his range is far better than any potential shortstops on the team.
His throws to first base were often erratic but the first baseman he mostly threw to, Michael Chavis is a natural 2nd baseman and not a first baseman. Let’s see how he fairs with a natural first baseman next year
His weakness is high short pop-ups in the infield.
They would love to have a lefty. They would like to save Ortiz service time so I expect one added. Wilson Thompson can be long men or injury replacements. Have plenty of depth in minors.
Playing Castro at 3rd to give Hayes a break was dreadful. Castro committed 8 throwing errors in the few games he played there
Van Meter ( now gone) despite his versatility to play anywhere on the field, was an absolute disaster whether it was his throwing or catching abilities
And there best first baseman, Michael Chavis ( also gone) was actually a 2nd baseman
So, Simon, does this mean that once you go to bed we won’t get any more articles until like 8pm on Tuesday evening?
Still putting in the late night work. We are not worthy.
Reunion with Lyles wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Simon = the real MVP
Hear, hear!
Lmao, the Pirates shouldnt even be a baseball team
thankfully your opinion doesn’t matter Jwap
There’s still lifelong fans whose opinions do matter
I agree with you the man
Then who would be Yankees, Astros and padres farm teams?
I’m certain that if they nab a couple of 5+ ERA pitchers it will push them over the top. Six playoff appearances since 1980, Nutting should do less in the super competitive NL Central.
Bobby Dalbec and Jarren Duran could be had pretty easily. They should send Chaim a reliever or two.
Rking;
They just traded for Ji-Man Choi and are paying 87 year-old Carlos Santana what for them is a lot of money.
No way Nutting is paying $10 mill for a pitcher so they were not in the running for Gibson.
$2 million range is their comfort zone.
“but we could if we wanted to”
A good sports talk host should be able to get a few hours out of that comment.
Fans who hate Nutting should print signs and T shirts with this quote on it.
Ya, that quote says it all..
The pirates havent tried to win in 30 years. What a joke
Well, there was 2013, 2014, 2015 where they went to the divisional series and two wild card berths. They won 94, 88, 98 games those years so they tried winning then.
Skell2, the Bucs were the NL wild card in 2013-2015, capping off the 2015 season with 98 wins
What irks me most on this site, people who make ridiculous claims and know nothing about what they’re saying
skell post is an example of why the downvote should be brought back.
But I know it won’t…
There is a ton of intentional bad takes recently or just posts that well are like his….
Shut up, idiot.
As far as Cruz wanting to be a SS, Albert Pujols came up a third basemen and moved to right field at the team’s request. Then moved to 1B, again at the team’s request. Offered to play wherever needed. But he was no Oneil Cruz. So ya.
Take on Eduardo Rodríguez. A boy can dream; can’t he?
Chad Kuhl, come on down!!!
I think Cherington is looking for this year Quintana, a cheap bounce back candidate that can net you assets at the deadline. A 100 loss team, no payroll flexibility and a top 10 farm system seems like they are 2-3 years away from clarity on where they are in the rebuild process.
Sooner or later the Pirates have to stop with the one or two low cost moves hoping to trade them at the deadline and put a consistently good team on the field. No more never ending rebuild. I don’t care about 2013-2015. Ancient history. Always another year or two with the prospects.
Urquidy for Reynolds
jjd002;
Verlander is gone. Astros need all their starting pitchers.
Astros don’t need to trade anyone. They just need to fill a couple of gaps through free agency and they are set.
But Kyle Gibson has already been signed (was my first response)… Yea in all seriousness they should sign Bassitt and I could see them giving Syndergaard or someone relatively cheap a shot. I am pretty sure they won’t sign Bassitt but if they are signing arms just to have someone to pencil in then what is really the point? Let a young chap pitch. They were saved from themselves with Gibson signing elsewhere.
I guess they may be trying to get someone to trade at deadline. They are improving though as time goes on.
I doubt Syndergaard will be cheap…at least until spring training looms and he has to be.
Yesterday Gibson said he chose the O’s because he had confidence of the infielders ability to catch and throw the ball hit in their direction.
He must have known that the Pirates infielders last year allowed the most unearned runs in the league
The Pirates were reportedly interested in signing him, too
Gibson chose Baltimore because they paid him $10M. Pittsburgh expects to fill their whole rotation for $10M.
How about those cardinals. Two players killed while drunk driving, their hero manager popped for DWI at least twice, and now their broadcaster received his THIRD! Lol. Not to mention all the coke and steroid abusers that have gone through St Louis. That cardinal way sure is classy
What else is there to do in St. Louis?
You’re cheese is moldy
Seriously, we went to a game in St. Louis and stayed at a hotel a block from the park. Walking back to the hotel, we feared for our lives.
Your organization harbors felons.
I wonder if AA would make Ian Anderson available. He’s probably the best of the Braves young rotation candidates, and has three years before FA. Plus, there’s lots of Jethro Tull joke material.
5.10ERA Lyles? SMH
White Sox would be willing to send you Giolito. And we’ll take that unhappy Reynolds guy in return. Just out of the goodness of the hearts of fans in Chicago wanting to help Pittsburgh!
Are we really discussing the pirates sp? Talk about something more relevant like folding laundry….this article is a joke
And yet, you read it. And you posted. And you’ll come back repeatedly to read responses to your post. And you’ll respond to those. And…
MLBTR wins.