These three starting pitchers are ones the Pittsburgh Pirates could pursue in free agency this offseason in an effort to bolster the 2024 roster
A little over a month ago, I wrote about some free agents the Pittsburgh Pirates should sign this offseason if they want to compete for a division title in 2024. That list included two starting pitchers (Jordan Montgomery and Michael Lorenzen) because I believed that was the part of the roster that needed the most attention this offseason.
Since then, we've seen the Pirates pivot to a rotation that includes only two true starting pitchers while running multiple bullpen games a week, seemingly using every possible combination of openers that they have available to them.
Surprisingly, the Pirates have gone 16-10 since August 28th while having Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo as their only true rotation starters during this span. Those two are presumably the only locks for the starting rotation when Opening Day 2024 rolls around. Paul Skenes should be, but we all know that isn't going to happen.
Quinn Priester and Luiz Ortiz will get looks, and you'd think Jared Jones probably will as well. However, it's most likely that the Pirates are going to turn to external options to fill out next year's rotation, and they should.
It's going to be really tough to survive until June next year, or whenever they decide Paul Skenes is "ready" without at least two free agent starters. Even with two free agents, you are probably still giving the fifth rotation spot to someone who isn't fully qualified like Priester or Ortiz. That's why nailing this winter is an absolute must.
With that said, here's three more options the Pirates should have an eye on once free agency time comes around.