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4 last-minute free agent pitchers Pirates can pursue after Andrew Heaney signing

Spring training is kicking off, but the Pirates could make a last minute addition to improve their pitching staff by pursuing these five hurlers still on the market.
ByNoah Wright|
Aug 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney (44) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Aug 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney (44) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
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David Robertson

David Robertson was one of just four free agents this offseason that was going into their age-40 season. However, he may have been the best among those four. He’s been one of the best late-inning arms in the game dating back to his first full big league season in 2009 with the World Series-winning New York Yankees. 2024 was one of his best years yet.

Robertson pitched to the tune of a 3.00 ERA, 2.65 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP across 72 innings of work. He struck out about a third of opponents, with a 33.4% K%, and limited home runs well with an 0.63 HR/9 rate. His 88.7 MPH exit velocity was about league average and was in the 53rd percentile of pitchers, but his 5.5% barrel percentage was even better, placing within the 85th percentile. Walks were his only below-average peripheral, but 9.1% is still a very manageable rate.

Robertson still had a sub-3.00 xFIP (2.88) and SIERA (2.69), the first time he has accomplished that in a full season since 2018. Stuff+ still put him at a quality 109 mark. 2024 was also the first year since 2017 in which he struck out at least one third of batters. He also set a career-high in innings pitched, as it was the first time he'd ever surpassed more than 70 frames in a season.

Sure, Robertson isn’t a young gun. He turns 40 on April 9, and the Pirates have only had three pitchers in their age 40-or-older season pitch for them in the last 25 seasons. But Robertson has consistently been one of baseball’s most effective relievers in parts of 16 seasons. He showed no signs of age in 2024, and, if anything, displayed there’s still a decent amount of gas left in the tank. Given that spring training is now starting, he may have to settle for less than what he signed for last season ($10 million).

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