4 creative routes Pirates can go down to fill bullpen need in free agency

After the Pirates' bullpen collapsed in 2024, the team went into the offseason needing to make some changes. Adding a left-hander was a must after losing three to free agency, and they did that with the signings of Caleb Ferguson, Tim Mayza, and familiar face Ryan Borucki.

With spring training right around the corner, the bullpen could still use some reinforcements in many different ways. The Pirates do not need to go after the absolute best relievers on the market, and should instead get creative by relying on different specialists that excel in their specific roles. These four would each make sense for their respective skill sets.

To fill the bullpen, the Pirates should creatively utilize one of these specialists.

Setup Man and Closer Wild Card: Kenley Jansen

Aroldis Chapman was an unexpected signing last offseason, and the Pirates could do a similar deal with future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen. He was the closer for Boston in 2024, but they signed Chapman instead for 2025. The market for teams needing a closing pitcher is dwindling down, so Jansen may need to find himself a job as a setup man, and that would be perfect with Pittsburgh.

Last season, Jansen posted an ERA of 3.29 with a FIP of 3.00 across 54.2 innings and struck out 62 batters. Opponents hit .193 against him, and he walked hitters at a 9.2% rate to generate a WHIP of 1.06.

Even at 37, Jansen still has it and would be a solid boost to the bullpen. Similarly to Chapman, Jansen would slide right in as the eighth inning guy, and if David Bednar falls apart again, he could be the next guy up for the closer job. The contract would be similar to what the Pirates forked over to Chapman last offseason, and it would be worth it.

Lefty Specialist: Scott Alexander

If the Pirates trust Colin Holderman and Dennis Santana to hold down the setup man positions, then adding another left-hander to the bullpen beyond Mayza would be wise; Borucki is on an MiLB deal, and Ferguson may be a starter.

Scott Alexander makes a lot of sense, as he is very strong against left-handed batters, and the Pirates likely seek two southpaws in their Opening Day bullpen. Ferguson as the opener, Alexander and Mayza waiting in the wings, perhaps?

Solely against left-handed hitters in 2024, Alexander limited batters to a batting average of just .169 and a slugging percentage of .210. That alone is dominant, but it pairs perfectly with his season on the whole, in which he posted an ERA of 2.58 and an FIP of 3.89 on the season.

This is a cheaper option for Pittsburgh instead of Jansen, and represents a piece who would be used in a limited role.

Long Relief: Jakob Junis

In 2024, the Pirates had a solid long reliever for the first chunk of the season in Luis Ortiz. His success put him into the starting rotation in the middle of the season. When the Pirates were able to utilize a solid long reliever who could come in after someone from their dominant starting staff, they shortened games effectively.

To replicate that success and role in 2025, they could consider Jakob Junis. Along with being in the long relief role, he could also bridge as a starter until Johan Oviedo is up to full strength.

In 24 outings last season, Junis put together an ERA of 2.69 across 67 innings and produced a WHIP of 0.85. Opponents batted .202 against him, and he walked batters at an elite rate of just 3.2%. Junis is very effective and would be a great addition to the bullpen, especially when given this is the role that he recently thrived in.

Under-the-Radar Upgrade: Danny Coulombe

Lastly is Danny Coulombe, a veteran left-hander who would sneakily upgrade the bullpen (over, yes, Mayza, Borucki and Ferguson). He is not exactly a prototypical high-leverage guy or a specialist, but instead he would just be a solid reliever to count on.

Despite dealing with injuries in 2024, Coulombe was still able to toss an ERA of 2.12 with an FIP of 2.83 and a WHIP of 0.67. He had a low walk rate of 4.7% and allowed hitters to bat just .147. Due to his lack of innings that season, it is expected for him to regress a bit moving forward. Overall, though, he would still boost the bullpen a ton at a cheap price.