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3 low-risk, high-reward free agent starting pitcher options for the Pirates

A low-cost starting pitching option with a ton of potential might do the Pirates a lot of good.

ByNoah Wright|
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21) pitches during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler (21) pitches during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have a ton of young and talented rotation arms between their 40-man roster and the upper levels of their minor-league system. It’s easily the best part of the team right now, and any good Pirates team in the future is going to be built around their pitching. But as any team should know, there’s no such thing as enough pitching depth.

The Pirates should seriously consider taking on a low-risk, high-reward arm for a moderate price this offseason. Not only do they add more depth to the starting rotation, but it will also let them be more flexible in trades.

The Pirates should be dealing some of their young hurlers for bats, and signing a rebound arm could let them make a deal without greatly impacting the depth chart. Plus, if it works out, the Pirates get a good pitcher on a cheap deal.

3 low-risk, high-reward pitching options for Pirates in MLB free agency

Jose Urquidy

Jose Urquidy proved to be a solid rotation arm for the Houston Astros as he rose through the ranks. Between 2021 and 2022, Urquidy pitched to a solid 3.81 ERA, 4.42 FIP, and 1.10 WHIP across 271.1 innings. The right-hander’s 20.3% strikeout rate wasn’t great, but his 5.2% walk rate was. Urquidy was prone to home runs with a 1.54 HR/9 rate and a 9.3% barrel percentage.

Urquidy then entered 2023 with the expectation he could continue to be a reliable member of the Astros’ rotation, but ended up pitching just 63 innings before undergoing elbow surgery. Something was off before hitting the IL, as Urquidy had a 5.29 ERA, 5.38 FIP, and 1.43 WHIP. His strikeout rate dropped to 16.4%, but the real red flag was his 9.1% walk rate. 

Urquidy did not return for the 2024 campaign. The Astros then put him on outright waivers in early November before he elected free agency. Urquidy may be able to return next year. If the right-hander underwent internal brace surgery rather than Tommy John surgery, he has a chance to be back in action before the second half of the season. If Urquidy was able to avoid TJ surgery, the Bucs should seriously consider bringing him in.

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