Pirates' possible choice to convert Caleb Ferguson may benefit them in 2025

After employing a disastrous bullpen in 2024, the Pirates finally made a significant move to improve it by signing left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract worth $3 million. He has had multiple seasons pitching very well with contenders, but is coming off a down year in 2024.

Quickly looking at Ferguson, everyone would expect that he would be one of the Pirates' go-to left-handers out of the bullpen on Opening Day. After all, the team has southpaw Joey Wentz currently in the 'pen but ... that is very much it, and that is not enough.

Just when we thought holes would be filled and things would be normal again, though, a report by Alex Stumpf changed things completely.

He stated that the Pirates may be planning to transition Ferguson into a starting pitcher during spring training, which comes as a complete surprise, given that Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, and Bailey Falter have all locked up spots in the rotation.

The fifth spot is up for grabs at the moment, but there are multiple reasons as to why the front office might be considering this decision. At the moment, there are two guys already that would be competing this spring for that final spot, but they both come with reasons as to why starting during that first cycle may not be the best idea.

Pirates may be making an interesting decision by trying Caleb Ferguson out as a starter, but there is a reason why.

First off is Johan Oviedo, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery and will need to be treated carefully. He has had control problems in his short career, and his break from throwing may make that worse in his return back to the mound. If he is not ready to be in the starting rotation, by all means, give him time. He has a minor-league option to work with, so do not rush him if he is going to make a negative impact early.

Next is Bubba Chandler, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect. There is a strong chance that he amazes everyone during spring training like Jared Jones did a year ago, but his value to the team could be critical in 2025. The Pirates may want to manage his pitch count similar to how they managed Paul Skenes at the start of 2024.

For both of them, their health long-term is very important. Therefore, it may not be wrong to take caution with them. Chandler dealt with minor forearm issues in 2024, which is likely why the Pirates want to ease off his pitch count.

Given what the timeline for Oviedo and Chandler could be for 2025, it is likely that the Pirates view Ferguson as a bridge starter from the start of the season to around early May. Skenes built up his pitch count in the first month at Triple-A and was up in the second week of May.

After Ferguson is a starter for a month, if this transition plays out as Stumpf posited, he will likely get pushed back to the bullpen and be the team's go-to southpaw. He is very capable of being an effective reliever and surely will see time doing that in 2025, but as the Pirates await some of their starting pitching reinforcements, this may not be the worst idea to start things off.

There is also the chance that he does poorly in that role during spring training and the Pirates scrap that idea by tossing him in the bullpen. We will have to wait and see, but this seems to be a possible plan to begin 2025.