Pirates somehow made their bullpen problem even worse with latest move

The Pittsburgh Pirates (hopefully) entered June knowing one thing above all else: if they're serious about contending in 2026, they need bullpen help.

Unfortunately, their latest move feels less like a solution and more like a reminder of just how thin their relief depth has become.

The Pirates signed veteran right-hander Yunior Marte to a minor league contract over the weekend and assigned him to the Florida Complex League. On the surface, there's nothing wrong with taking a flier on a pitcher who has major-league experience. Teams do it all the time. But the problem is what this signing says about where the Pirates currently are.

Marte isn't arriving as a hidden gem or a reliever coming off a strong season who simply needs a change of scenery. He's coming off years of struggles at the major-league level. Across parts of four MLB seasons, Marte owns a 5.94 ERA, a 1.64 WHIP and has allowed opponents to hit .284 against him.

His lone appearance with the Cincinnati Reds this season couldn't have gone much worse. Marte recorded one out while allowing four earned runs, leaving him with a 108.00 ERA before being sent packing (yes, really).

Pirates' Yunior Marte signing does little to instill confidence in Pittsburgh's bullpen depth

The bigger issue here is that the Pirates are signing pitchers like Marte because they have already exhausted several of their previous bullpen plans.

Justin Lawrence was designated for assignment after posting a 5.32 ERA. Isaac Mattson was sent back to Triple-A. Dennis Santana lost the closer's role after continued inconsistency. Even with offseason additions such as Gregory Soto, Pittsburgh's bullpen remains one of the weakest links on an otherwise surprisingly competitive roster.

Since late April, the Pirates' bullpen ERA ranks among the worst in baseball. They've already blown 14 saves, tied near the top of the league in a category no contender wants to lead. Meanwhile, the front office is reportedly being more aggressive than most teams in searching for relief help — and if a veteran with a 108.00 ERA is the best they can do, then Pirates fans have every reason to be concerned.

If Pittsburgh really wants to fix its bullpen, the answer probably isn't sitting in the Florida Complex League. The Pirates need proven arms they can trust in leverage situations, whether that means promoting legitimate internal options like Antwone Kelly or making an aggressive trade before the deadline.

Marte may eventually work his way into the conversation. But for now, the Pirates somehow managed to highlight their bullpen problem instead of solving it.

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