Pirates may find left-handed answer in bullpen by reuniting with Dodgers castoff

The first, second, and third priorities in Pittsburgh this offseason were to add real offensive threats to the lineup. After years of ranking at or near the bottom of the league in scoring and power output, something needed to be done.

Ben Cherington has answered those calls and then some, bringing in Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, Jake Magnum, Jhostynxon Garcia, and most recently Marcell Ozuna to add some thump to the Pirates' order. There's no guarantee that quintet will be able to turn around a once-moribund group, but this is the scariest on-paper offense the Bucs have had since they crashed the playoffs in three straight years from 2013-15.

However, the bullpen needed to be addressed as well, particularly in terms of adding southpaws to the mix. In Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery, the Pirates have added some serious velocity from the left side to their eight-man relief corps.

But, given Soto's longstanding struggles with issuing free passes and Montgomery's struggles against righties, acquiring another left-hander to compete for an Opening Day roster spot would be wise. Could the Pirates find such a player by reuniting with old friend Anthony Banda?

Dodgers' release of Anthony Banda could be perfect opportunity for Pirates to strike

Banda has won two straight World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though he was designated for assignment after the reigning champs claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers.

The 32-year-old southpaw thrives behind his upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider, which could be a little superflous with Montgomery and Soto already on the team. However, his experience in Pittsburgh and in the postseason is valuable, and he's particularly tough on left-handed hitters, allowing just 15 hits to them in 112 plate appearances last year.

There are concerns about Banda's command after he surrendered a 13.0% walk rate in 2025, but he's a proven FIP-beater thanks to his ability to generate whiffs and limit hard contact. He's also had a history of inducing lots of groundballs, which could be beneficial for a Pirates team that figures to start defensive wizards Jared Triolo and Konnor Griffin on a regular basis in the near future.

If the Pirates are to carry a third lefty in their bullpen on Opening Day, Evan Sisk is the current favorite to win the job. He's handled less than 20 innings of MLB work in his career (including just 12 1/3 with the Pirates), but he's got a deep arsenal and strikes hitters out at a blistering rate.

Banda would provide nice competition for Sisk, 28, in spring training at the very least. The latter has two minor-league options remaining, which could allow the Pirates to be flexibile enough to add someone like Banda back to the bullpen mix in the early part of the 2026 season.