Pirates may not be done adding to bullpen after Gregory Soto signing

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a reliever their first official signing of the winter when they inked southpaw Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal during the Winter Meetings. But apparently Soto wasn't the only bullpen arm who caught their eye.

According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pirates also expressed interest in free-agent reliever Seranthony Dominguez before ultimately signing Soto –– and it doesn't sound like they've completely closed the door on that yet.

That's where fans are right to raise an eyebrow. Because while adding Soto was necessary — and genuinely smart — the Pirates’ offseason cannot drift back into the familiar pattern of “bullpen upgrades first, offense later… eventually… maybe.”

Let’s be clear: the Pirates’ bullpen is not the crisis point it once was. Dennis Santana has earned his way into real leverage innings. Soto gives them something they’ve lacked for years — a proven, power lefty who can miss bats late. Isaac Mattson quietly put together a very solid season. Justin Lawrence has the kind of stuff that plays in the seventh or eighth inning if he throws strikes.

There’s also real upside on the way. Ryan Harbin and Brandan Bidois aren’t far off, and the organization finally has a wave of young arms that could turn into bullpen weapons instead of bullpen experiments. Add in optionable relievers and roster flexibility, and this is a group that can be mixed and matched without duct tape and crossed fingers.

That’s progress –– but progress in the bullpen does not win games when the lineup can’t score.

Pirates' offseason focus should be adding bats, not making more bullpen upgrades like Seranthony Dominguez.

Domínguez is a good reliever. On the right team, he’s an eighth-inning bridge or even a ninth-inning option. The Pirates showing interest before the Soto signing made sense — they were thin on proven arms. But after Soto? Domínguez becomes a luxury.

This team does not need another $8–10 million bullpen arm more than it needs professional hitters who make opposing pitchers uncomfortable. The Pirates were last in baseball in runs, home runs, and OPS last season. That wasn’t a bullpen problem. That was a lineup problem — a loud, flashing-red-light lineup problem. You can’t keep building the roof when the foundation is cracked.

To Cherington’s credit, everything coming out of the organization suggests the focus has shifted to offense. That’s exactly where it should be. If Domínguez — or any veteran reliever — is still sitting on the market in February? Fine. Circle back. But right now, every dollar, every trade chip, and every ounce of creativity should be pointed at upgrading the lineup.

Adding Soto was unquestionably a good move. But if the Pirates want to take a real step forward — not just feel better about their bullpen — they can’t let Domínguez rumors pull oxygen away from the real priority. Fix the offense first. Then, and only then, worry about stacking another late-inning arm.

Because this team isn’t one reliever away. It’s several bats away — and everyone knows it.