3 former Pirates starting pitchers who could return and replace Luis Ortiz in 2025

Trevor Williams

Trevor Williams was a part of the Pirates' rotation from 2017 through 2020. He had some solid years, like in 2017 and 2018, but struggled a ton during his final two years with the Pirates. Since then, he has bounced around the National League, going from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Mets and, most recently, the Washington Nationals. Williams' 2024 was great, albeit limited due to injury.

Williams only tossed 66.2 innings, but it was his best stretch of playing time as a starter since the second half of 2018. Williams had a 2.08 ERA, 2.79 FIP, and 1.04 WHIP. His 22.7% K% was roughly league-average, and marked the best single-season strikeout rate he has ever put up. Williams was not prone to allowing many walks either, with a 6.9% BB%. His HR/9 also clocked in at an outstanding 0.41-per-9 rate with an above-average 6.6% barrel percentage.

Williams was great when he was healthy, but health wasn't the only red flag in Williams' season. SIERA and xFIP did not project him as a pitcher with an ERA approaching sub-2.00, landing at 3.96 and 3.82, respectively. Both marks were still above average, at least.

Opponents had a .267 batting average on balls in play against Williams. But entering the year, he had a .301 BABIP. Despite that, his exit velocity (89.4 MPH) and barrel rate were not that far off from his career averages of 87.7 MPH and 7%, respectively. His 81 Stuff+ rating was also well below average and right in line with his career average of 80.

Still, even if Williams pitched to his ERA estimators, that would still be a high-3.00 ERA pitcher. That would make him an above-average back-of-the-rotation-type arm. Worst-case scenario, the Pirates can move Williams into the bullpen as a swingman, which was a role he excelled in with the New York Mets in 2022.