Pirates signing Chris Devenski still doesn't solve clear problem heading into 2026

The Pittsburgh Pirates signing Chris Devenski to a minor-league deal is exactly the kind of move good teams make in January — sensible, low-risk, and rooted in depth rather than desperation. But it's also a move that neatly underscores a larger issue Pittsburgh still hasn’t solved heading into 2026.

Devenski checks a lot of quiet boxes the Pirates value. He’s experienced. He knows how to survive without premium velocity. He can soak up innings in low-leverage spots and help stabilize the Major League bullpen if injuries hit. For a relief corps that will almost certainly churn at least a few arms over the course of the season, that matters.

As a depth arm, Devenski fits cleanly into the Pirates’ current bullpen ecosystem. He throws strikes and has a legitimate out pitch (his changeup). He's been around long enough to know how to prepare without guaranteed roster security, and he can be stashed or promoted without disrupting long-term plans.

In other words, this is a professional bullpen stabilizer — the type of pitcher you want competing for one of the final roster spots while younger, higher-octane arms fight for upside roles. If Devenski breaks camp with the team, great. If he doesn’t, he’s still a phone call away when the inevitable April or May bullpen crisis arrives. That’s smart roster construction.

But the Pirates’ biggest 2026 pitching concern isn’t the bullpen — it’s the back of the rotation.

Pirates' Chris Devenski move makes sense, but doesn't solve the bigger problem with their pitching staff

Pittsburgh is once again asking a lot of young arms –– developmental starters (Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler) who may hit innings caps, swingmen (Carmen Mlodzinski) who haven't proven they can turn a lineup over three times and depth starters (Thomas Harrington and Hunter Barco) who are better suited for short stints than full MLB workloads.

That’s a risky way to bridge a season where expectations are clearly rising.

What’s missing is a boring but essential piece: a veteran starter who can take the ball every fifth day, even if the results are unspectacular. Someone who gives you 160-180 innings, keeps the bullpen from being overexposed by June, and allows young pitchers to develop without being rushed into unsustainable roles. (Plus, once those young pitchers are ready, you can always flip the veteran starter at the trade deadline.)

Without that kind of rotation insurance, even a well-constructed bullpen gets stressed quickly. More short starts mean more leverage innings. More leverage innings mean more volatility. And suddenly your “bullpen depth” is just damage control.

Devenski may help absorb innings after a short start, but he doesn’t prevent those short starts from happening. He’s a patch, not a preventative measure –– and that's the broader takeaway from this signing.

The Pirates are making good, sensible margin moves, but they’re still one major decision short of real pitching stability. Until Pittsburgh adds a veteran starter who can reliably stabilize the back end of the rotation, every bullpen addition will feel like a workaround rather than a solution.

Devenski is a smart depth add. He’s just not the kind of arm that moves the needle on the Pirates’ clearest 2026 pitching problem –– and that problem is still waiting to be addressed.