Mike Burrows confirming what Pirates fans already suspected with Astros ascension

Pittsburgh Pirates fans weren’t shocked the team dealt Mike Burrows in a three-team trade with the Houston Astros this offseason.

With Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, and a wave of young arms competing for innings, the right-hander had become something of an expendable piece. In Pittsburgh, he projected as a No. 5 starter at best — maybe even the sixth option.

But there was also a quiet understanding among the fan base: Burrows might actually be pretty good somewhere else.

Now, just weeks into spring training with the Houston Astros, that suspicion is looking increasingly valid. Burrows hasn’t allowed a single run this spring across 12 2/3 innings, striking out 15 batters while allowing just six hits.

It’s early. It’s spring training. No one’s hanging Cy Young banners yet. But the underlying reasons for the breakout are exactly what Pirates fans remember.

Burrows' mid-90s fastball plays well off a devastating changeup that generated a 43.1% whiff rate last season. Statcast also graded his off-speed pitches in the 97th percentile in run value, making it one of the most effective secondary arsenals among young starters.

In Pittsburgh, those flashes came in bursts. In Houston, they may come with a clearer runway. The Astros suddenly needed rotation stability after losing Framber Valdez in free agency, and Burrows walked into camp with an opportunity to claim real innings rather than fight through a crowded depth chart.

Now, a pitcher who might have been the fifth or sixth option in Pittsburgh could realistically slot in as a No. 3 starter in Houston, especially behind Hunter Brown and Tatsuya Imai.

Pirates didn't "lose" the Mike Burrows trade, but they may have to watch him break out in Houston

None of this means the Pirates made a mistake. Far from it.

The trade that sent Burrows away also brought back Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, and Mason Montgomery — players the Pirates believe can help address lineup depth and roster balance. Pittsburgh’s pitching pipeline is overflowing, so they had the luxury of dealing from a surplus. Still, surplus doesn't mean replaceable.

Burrows had already shown real promise in Pittsburgh. Across 23 appearances and 19 starts in 2025, he posted a 3.94 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP over 96 innings — numbers that hinted at more upside if he could refine his command and lean further into his off-speed arsenal.

Houston may simply be the place where that next step happens.

Trades like this rarely look the same from both sides. For the Astros, Burrows may end up being one of the most underrated acquisitions of the winter — a controllable young starter stepping into a meaningful role at exactly the right time. For the Pirates, the deal addressed roster needs while clearing space for an emerging wave of arms.

But if Burrows’ spring dominance carries into the regular season, it will confirm something Pirates fans already suspected when the trade happened: Burrows always had the talent. He just needed the opportunity.

And in Houston, he might finally have it.