Pirates could avoid uncomfortable non-tender by trading this expensive reliever

The Pittsburgh Pirates already cut ties with relievers Dauri Moreta and Colin Holderman earlier this week, but they still have some difficult decisions to make before Friday's non-tender deadline.

One of those difficult decisions revolves around right-handed reliever Dennis Santana, who served as Pittsburgh's de facto closer in the second half of 2025 and is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility in 2026.

Santana’s projected $3.4 million arbitration salary puts him in an awkward middle ground for the Pirates. He's not cheap enough to be an automatic keep, and he's not good or consistent enough for the Pirates to dogmatically rely on him in high leverage. He's out of minor league options, which limits flexibility, and the Pirates' 40-man roster is already packed; every spot matters.

If the Pirates keep Santana, they overpay for a volatile leverage arm. If they non-tender him, they lose him for nothing. This is classic “bad optics, zero return” territory — something a rebuilding team like Pittsburgh cannot afford.

Pirates can turn Dennis Santana situation from uncomfortable non-tender decision into strategic advantage

Instead of non-tendering Santana, the Pirates could shop him to a team that values his velocity and durability and wants to take a cheap, one-year gamble. A trade could realistically net Pittsburgh a low-level prospect, a fringe 40-man arm or international bonus pool money. Even a marginal return is better than a non-tender, and the real value would be the roster spot and payroll clarity it would create.

That being said, the Pirates traded David Bednar last season and have no clear ninth-inning option if they cut ties with Santana. They need a real, stabilizing closer — someone who limits innings pressure on Paul Skenes and the rest of the rotation.

If the Pirates trade Santana, they clear a 40-man roster spot (and $3.4 million in payroll), they avoid non-tender backlash, and they can reallocate that money to a real closer instead of a replaceable bullpen arm. Generally speaking, $3.4 million isn't enormous; but for the Pirates, it's closer money –– especially with a rumored $30-40 million payroll bump for 2026.

If the Pirates can flip Santana before the tender deadline and get even a modest return, they can use his salary and roster spot to sign or trade for a legitimate closer, or even sign two relievers with actual late-inning upside. It's the cleanest, most efficient way to avoid a pointless non-tender and improve the bullpen in one fell swoop.