Don Kelly should exercise influence to bring former teammate to Pirates

Don Kelly stepping into the Pittsburgh Pirates' manager role changed the temperature in the room. Now, if they are going to be serious about turning this team into something dangerous, the quickest way to prove it is to add pitching certainty.

Justin Verlander still being unsigned matters in this case. It’s not just about the name. It’s about chasing reliable innings with a winning standard.

The Pirates have young arms that can pop, and the organization can rightfully feel good about where the rotation is headed. But potential is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Every team loves its pitching in February. The teams that survive the season are the ones with a plan for the ugly parts. And Pittsburgh’s margin is thin, and that’s where a veteran stabilizer actually changes your season, not just your depth chart.

Pirates’ offseason keeps offering a tempting Verlander idea they can’t quite dismiss

Verlander at 42 (turning 43 soon) isn’t a world-beater to say the least. And the Pirates shouldn’t sell him on that role. The appeal is simpler: he can still take the ball, still compete, and still set a standard that young rotations either learn from or get exposed by. Even last season, the point wasn’t that Verlander looked like peak Verlander — it was that he showed he can still adjust, still sequence, and still find ways to win outs when his stuff isn’t overwhelming. 

This is where Kelly’s influence becomes more than a talking point. Kelly and Verlander share Tigers history, and relationships matter when you’re asking a future Hall of Famer to choose your situation over a shinier logo.

The Pirates can’t outbid every contender, and they can’t promise the softest landing spot, either. What they can offer is a clear role, honest communication, and a manager who can look Verlander in the eye and say, “You’re not here for a farewell tour. You’re here because we’re trying to win and we respect what you bring to the room.”

The pitch has to be realistic and sharp. A one-year deal with incentives makes sense, but the messaging matters just as much as the money. Pittsburgh should be selling a plan for workload, a commitment to using Verlander as a rotation anchor rather than a marketing prop, and an understanding that his value isn’t only ERA — it’s teaching a young staff how to prepare and how to handle the pressure spikes that come when games start feeling like they count double.

There’s risk, of course. Father Time is undefeated, and Verlander isn’t immune. But that’s also why this opportunity exists. If the Pirates want to act like a team ready to contend — not someday, but now — this is the kind of calculated swing they have to be willing to take.

Kelly has the credibility to make the call feel personal and serious. Now he should use it.