Pirates' latest coaching hire could give them an inside track on newly available Astros pitcher

When it comes to offseason needs, starting pitching isn't going to very high on the Pittsburgh Pirates' list. In fact, the biggest decision regarding a starter this winter may be regarding an in-house one, as the Bucs need to decide what Mitch Keller's future holds after his ugly 2026 season.

Not only is that a rare position to be in across the league-wide landscape, but it's also an advantageous one. While a number of contenders focus their pre-lockout attention on Tarik Skubal and the dwindling number of ace-caliber pitchers on the market, the Bucs will be able to hone in on addressing their roster holes in the bullpen and on the position player side of things.

Still, there's no such thing as too much pitching depth. It's always helpful to have capable arms who can shuttle between the big leagues and Triple-A throughout the course of the season, and it just so happens that one with a strong connection to new Pirates pitching coach Sean Buchanan is suddenly available.

Ryan Weiss is a strong pitching depth target for Pirates, who can reunite him with pitching coach Sean Buchanan

The Pirates hired Buchanan, who has served as the Astros' Triple-A pitching coach for the past two seasons, to fill a similar role in their organization. His exact title and duties haven't been announced, but it's been suggested that he'll maintain a focus on the upper minors.

This is the second straight offseason in which the Pirates have pilfered Houston's coaching pipeline, as they hired major-league pitching coach Bill Murphy from the Astros last year. The organization has expressed a desire to build the pitching infrastructure around and beneath him, so reuniting Murphy with Buchanan was a nice step in that direction.

How this all ties back to Ryan Weiss is obvious; he returned to the states this year after a two-year detour in the KBO, working through various struggles in Triple-A (5.42 ERA) and the big leagues (7.10 FIP). Those numbers may not seem all that promising, but it was just last year that he dominated in South Korea, recording a 2.87 ERA and 28.6% strikeout rate in 30 starts.

A soon-to-be 30-year-old with just 26 innings of major-league experience under his belt, Weiss will more than likely have to settle for a minor-league contract this offseason. He still has options remaining as well, making him a cheap, flexible depth piece for any team that signs him.

With Buchanan now overseeing pitching development in Triple-A Indianapolis, there's a strong chance Weiss will want to reunite with him in the Pirates organization. It isn't nearly as exciting as a blockbuster trade or marquee free-agent signing, but these kinds of moves are often what allow competitive teams to survive the trials and tribulations of a 162-game season.

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