Pirates predicted to poach key piece of Brewers' World Series bullpen at bargain price

The Pittsburgh Pirates spent much of the 2026 season trying to figure out how to build a reliable bullpen, while the Milwaukee Brewers spent October demonstrating exactly what one could accomplish. Now, Pittsburgh could have an opportunity to steal a valuable piece of its division rival's championship formula.

In its annual Top 50 Free Agents rankings, MLB Trade Rumors identified the Pirates as a potential landing spot for left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, who played an important role in Milwaukee's run to its first World Series championship.

MLBTR projects Romero to command a two-year, $13 million contract, with Anthony Franco predicting that he will land in Pittsburgh. Other projected landing spots included the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.

For the Pirates, who finished 21 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central division, signing Romero would be an affordable bullpen upgrade. And poaching a proven postseason contributor away from the team they're trying to catch certainly doesn't hurt.

JoJo Romero could give Pirates exactly what their bullpen needs

The Brewers acquired Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals in an August trade, adding another experienced left-hander to a bullpen that would eventually become one of the defining strengths of their championship run.

Romero finished the regular season with a 3.36 ERA, 54 strikeouts and 18 walks across 56 1/3 innings between St. Louis and Milwaukee. But his postseason performance was even more impressive.

In eight innings during Milwaukee's championship run, Romero surrendered just three hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out 11 batters. His 1.13 ERA and 0.50 WHIP helped solidify a relief corps that repeatedly delivered in October.

The Brewers' bullpen finished the postseason with a remarkable 1.38 ERA across 65 innings, holding opposing hitters to a .173 batting average. Both marks were the second-best by a bullpen in a single postseason with at least 50 innings pitched.

That kind of dependability was something Pittsburgh struggled to establish for much of 2026. The Pirates recorded 16 blown saves before the All-Star break, forcing general manager Ben Cherington to aggressively address the bullpen at the trade deadline.

The additions of Luke Weaver, Kirby Yates and Lake Bachar helped stabilize the unit, while Mason Montgomery eventually emerged as a dominant late-inning option. Pittsburgh's bullpen actually led MLB in fWAR after the All-Star break, demonstrating how dramatically its fortunes improved. But that turnaround doesn't eliminate the need for reinforcements heading into 2027.

With veteran left-hander Gregory Soto entering free agency, the Pirates have an opening for another experienced southpaw capable of handling meaningful innings. Romero could fill that role without requiring Pittsburgh to make a substantial financial commitment. At MLBTR's projected $6.5 million annual salary, Romero would actually cost less per season than the $7.75 million Pittsburgh paid Soto in 2026.

There are limitations, of course. Romero isn't an overpowering strikeout specialist, and his 8% swinging-strike rate over the past four seasons raises questions about his ability to consistently miss bats. Still, his ability to generate ground balls and limit damage has made him an effective setup reliever. He posted a 2.07 ERA in 2025 and has accumulated 80 holds over the past four seasons.

The Pirates wouldn't need him to become their closer. With Montgomery and Weaver already positioned to handle the later innings, Romero could provide another dependable option in the seventh or eighth. And that's precisely the kind of bullpen depth Milwaukee demonstrated could make the difference between simply competing and winning a championship.

For the Pirates, signing Romero wouldn't erase a 21-game gap in the standings or solve the organization's other roster deficiencies. But it would represent a relatively inexpensive opportunity to strengthen an important part of their roster while simultaneously weakening a division rival.

Pittsburgh watched Milwaukee turn bullpen depth into a World Series championship. Now, the Pirates have a chance to borrow a piece of that formula. At just $13 million over two years, they shouldn't need much convincing.

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