Pirates insider hints at surprise offseason move fans didn’t see coming

The Pittsburgh Pirates are rolling. After pulling off the masterclass of a trade to bring Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh, Ben Cherington hinted to fans that he wasn't done. He quickly put his money where his mouth was, signing Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract.

The transformative steps taken to improve the lineup have fans buzzing, but there could be more coming down the pipeline. While the focus has entirely been on the lineup, Cherington might have more in store in his grand offseason plan.

Pirates insider Noah Hiles laid out the case for Pittsburgh to add another starting pitcher in free agency, doubling down on a strength and sending shivers of fear up the spines of the Pirates' NL Central rivals.

Pirates insider floats the idea that Pittsburgh could make a big free agent splash to bolster an already strong rotation

If there's one thing the Pirates have been good at in recent years, it is maximizing the talent of starting pitchers. With that in mind, why wouldn't Pittsburgh be a desirable destination for starters, both established and up and coming?

This is all in stark contrast to the idea that the Pirates would be dealing from the strength of the rotation, with Mitch Keller front and center in trade rumors. While technically trading away Mike Burrows in the Brandon Lowe deal satisfies the requirement of trading away a rotation arm, it was once a foregone conclusion that Keller will be hurling elsewhere in 2026.

Maybe that isn't the case, though, and in addition, Pittsburgh will be adding a high-end arm to the mix behind Paul Skenes. The one name Hiles mentioned was former Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez.

Not only is Valdez a borderline ace in his own right, but the Pirates don't actually have anyone who does what he does. The current projected rotation is entirely right-handed, making a dynamic southpaw like Valdez a serious addition that can take the unit to the next level.

When it comes to actual performance, few are better at keeping the ball on the ground than Valdez, while the 32-year-old sinkerballer leverages one of the most lethal curveballs in the game to rack up nearly a strikeout per inning in his career.

Next to Paul Skenes, a Valdez addition would give the Pirates perhaps the best one-two punch in the game. With that said, Valdez isn't the only starter they could add.

A number of other top-end options exist, including another lefty in Ranger Suarez, righty Zac Gallen, and many more down the line.

What we do know is that the Pirates' lineup looks to be in much better shape with the Lowe and O'Hearn additions, which, in conjunction with a potential Konnor Griffin promotion, could transform the lineup. At that point, it only makes sense to transition from improving a weakness to doubling down on a strength as Pittsburgh looks to sneak into the realm of contenders in 2026.