2 reunions that make sense to fill out Pirates' rotation after Mike Burrows trade

Here’s the thing Pittsburgh Pirates fans know better than anyone: you don’t fix everything in one winter — but you can at least stop the bleeding. And after trading away Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo, the back end of the rotation suddenly feels… thin.

Not disastrous. Not panic-worthy. Just thin enough that you can see the cracks forming if things go sideways. That’s why the idea of a familiar veteran arm returning to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal to help stabilize the rotation in 2026 actually makes a lot of sense — even if it doesn’t set Twitter on fire.

And honestly? That’s kind of the point.

The top of the Pirates’ rotation is exciting. It’s power arms, upside, and future-facing confidence. But the back end? That’s where seasons quietly unravel. That’s where innings get eaten by bullpen games, short starts, and Triple-A depth pieces you hoped you’d never need.

What Pittsburgh lost in Burrows and Oviedo wasn’t star power — it was certainty. Burrows gave you upside depth. Oviedo gave you bulk innings when healthy. Replace neither, and suddenly every minor injury turns into a scramble. That's where these two former Pirates come in.

2 reunions that make sense to fill out Pirates' rotation after Mike Burrows trade

Tyler Anderson

Tyler Anderson isn’t here to be a savior. He’s here to take the ball every fifth day, keep you in games, and not light your bullpen on fire by the fourth inning.

Anderson will be 36 years old when the 2026 campaign begins, so he won't be looking for long-term. He knows Pittsburgh. He’s pitched here. He understands the expectations — and the limitations.

A one-year deal for Anderson is about floor, not ceiling. It’s about knowing that when the schedule gets ugly or injuries pile up, you’re not throwing a kid into the deep end because you ran out of adult arms. That kind of stability matters more than fans want to admit — until it’s gone.

José Quintana

José Quintana already proved this once. He came to Pittsburgh, did his job, stayed professional, and gave the team exactly what it asked for: innings, composure, and no drama.

Quintana's not flashy. He’s not overpowering. But he understands sequencing, pitch economy, and how to survive when you don’t have premium velocity. In other words: he knows how to pitch, not just throw.

On a one-year deal, Quintana is the type of arm you don’t appreciate until July, when everyone else is exhausted and he’s still giving you six competitive innings –– even at 37 years old.

The biggest misconception about adding veterans like Anderson or Quintana is that they somehow “block” young pitchers. They don’t. What they do is prevent you from rushing them, overexposing them, or burning bullpen arms into dust.

One-year deals are the key here. No long-term commitments. No roster clogging. Just competent, professional pitchers who stabilize the rotation long enough for the real long-term pieces to develop on the right timeline. That’s not settling. That’s smart roster management.

Pirates fans are right to want impact. They’re right to want offense. They’re right to want more ambition. But this specific move? This is about not letting one good winter turn into a fragile one. After trading Burrows and Oviedo, the Pirates need reliability. They need innings. They need someone to stand on the mound in August when things get uncomfortable.

Anderson or Quintana on a one-year deal won’t fix everything — but they might prevent things from breaking. And sometimes, that’s the move that quietly saves your season.