Pirates have an obvious offseason need after bullpen games exposed major flaw

While there are some talented arms in the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation, it was clear in 2026 that more depth was needed. Bullpen games became the norm down the stretch as injuries took their toll and the back end of the rotation frayed.

As a result, Pirates insider Jason Mackey suggests that adding to the rotation depth be a key Pirates' offseason priority. Mackey also has a particular type of hurler in mind for the club to target — a soft tossing lefty, noting the team's past success with these sorts of pitchers as well as the way PNC Park's dimensions favor this player archetype.

Pittsburgh's rotation consisted entirely of right-handers this season, and while it was a bold choice, it didn't completely work out. Overall, the production from the starters was about average. The unit ranked 17th with a 4.15 ERA. They also came in 10th in xERA (4.00), seventh in FIP (3.82), and ninth in xFIP (4.02).

One might try to argue that those numbers would've been even better if not for Paul Skenes' down year, and while it's true that the 24-year-old ace didn't meet expectations, that's negated by the fact that Braxton Ashcraft far exceeded his own expectations.

All of this isn't to say that this is a bad unit, but when you look at Skenes, Ashcraft, Jared Jones, and Bubba Chandler, it can all turn into a blur. All four are right-handed power pitchers, which in a way means if you can prepare for one of them, you can prepare for all of them. That's why, in addition to simply having more depth, adding a finesse southpaw makes a lot of sense.

Pirates must take advantage of the several quality left-handed starters set to hit free agency

Pittsburgh doesn't need a star here. The important thing is a veteran leader who can reliably get outs, but doesn't need to dominate. With that said, the club can't aim too low and get someone completely ineffective just because they happen to throw left-handed and utilize soft stuff.

The good news is that there are lefties in every tier who will be seeking new teams. The Pirates won't be in the Tarik Skubal sweepsteaks, and they will find a plethora of options, as long as they're willing to open up the checkbook a bit.

There are a handful of solid mid-rotation options such as Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd of the Chicago Cubs. In addition to those familiar faces, Foster Griffin is another higher-end option who could fit the bill.

Pittsburgh might not even have to set its sights that high (though we can hope). David Peterson could be a sneaky-good buy-low candidate. He posted a 4.79 ERA on the season, but that's a bit misleading. He turned in a 6.09 ERA performance with the crumbling Mets, but after being traded to the Cubs, he turned in 80 1/3 innings with a 3.70 ERA.

Another lower-cost option with some veteran savvy could be Eric Lauer, who was a godsend for the Dodgers before elbow inflammation slowed him down and ultimately ended his season prematurely.

The point is, the market is flush with options, and plugging a quality one in can have an outsized impact on the Pirates given the nature of the other members of the rotation. That should make this a must-get on Ben Cherington's shopping list if Pittsburgh truly wants to contend in 2027.

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