Pirates sign former Yankees reliever who just had career season in 2023

Entering the offseason, the Pirates bullpen needed some work, especially after losing three left-handers to free agency.

Although it took some time, Ben Cherington has addressed some of the losses, starting with the signing of Caleb Ferguson. He got right back to it on Jan. 27 by bringing in veteran southpaw, Tim Mayza on a one-year deal, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com.

Now that this is the second southpaw that the Pirates have brought in to rebuild their bullpen, the group will look different come Opening Day. On paper, it's this group may be even better than the 2024 'pen, despite bringing back a lot of familiar faces.

Mayza has a unique story, coming from Millersville, a division two school in Pennsylvania. He's had his ups and downs in his career but has overall been an effective reliever in Toronto. That was until he fell apart in 2024 and found his way to the Yankees, where he rebounded quite well.

Pirates sign lefty reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year deal, boosting their bullpen

His last dominant season came in 2023 when he posted a 1.52 ERA with a FIP of 2.60 across 53.1 innings and struck out 53 batters. Opponents batted .250 against him and he walked hitters at a seven percent rate to generate a WHIP of 1.22. Those numbers are quite effective and are perfect for the Pirates bullpen. But what if he repeats his 2024 struggles?

Last season, Mayza clocked a 1.62 WHIP and 6.33 ERA in 42.2 innings. Allowing too many hits was a major issue, as opponents batted .302 against him. Nonetheless, he joins a great coaching staff for reviving careers, so there is a strong chance Mayza will be reliable in 2025.

This is a sneaky-solid pickup for the Pirates. There were other options available, but within the Pirates' price range, investing in a bounce-back candidate like Mayza could very well work out in this upcoming season. Time will tell if he can return to his old self, and if he does, the Pirates got a good one.