Pittsburgh Pirates: These Three Pitchers Can Not Start 2024 in the Starting Rotation

Ben Cherington needs to be busy adding starting pitching help this offseason

Sep 22, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Andre Jackson (41) pitches
Sep 22, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Andre Jackson (41) pitches | Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
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If the Pittsburgh Pirates are serious about improving in 2024, these three internal options can not be part of the Opening Day starting rotation

We have already discussed it at length, the Pittsburgh Pirates need a lot of starting pitching help. With starting pitchers that the Pirates could easily afford starting to fly off the free agent market, it's time for Ben Cherington to start to become more aggressive.

Right now, Mitch Keller is the only starting pitcher on the Pirate 40-man roster who should be locked into a rotation spot to start the 2024 season. He is also the only pitcher on the Pirate 40-man roster who has proven to be a legitimate MLB starting pitcher.

Expecting the Pirates to add four starting pitchers to go with Keller is not realistic. That simply is not how the Pirates operate. Due to this, at least one or two other internal options will have to join Keller in the Oepning Day rotation for 2024. However, these three internal options can not be in the team's Opening Day rotation. That is, at least, if the Pirates are serious about contending in 2024.

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