Pittsburgh Pirates: Two Former NL Central Starting Pitchers Still Available in Free Agency to Pursue

These two former NL Central foes remain free agents and could add a boost to the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation

We are less than three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Bradenton to kick off spring training 2024 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While the start of spring training is right around the corner, the Pirates are still in need of starting pitching help.

They have traded for Marco Gonzales this offseason while signing Martin Perez, but both of them come with their fair share of red flags. Additionally, both are back end of the rotation arms. That is not good for a starting rotation that, as currently constructed, only has three known commodities, and none of them are a true no. 1 starting pitcher.

On Tuesday, it was reported that the Pirates had watched Noah Syndergaard pitch in person and that they are interested in the veteran. Syndergaard, however, has battled ineffectiveness and injuries the past four seasons.

If the Bucs were to look elsewhere in free agency to add to their starting rotation, who could they look to? Which starting pitchers are still available in free agency, and could be targeted by the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Well, these two former National League Central foes could be free agent targets for the Pirates.

Brandon Woodruff

At one time, Brandon Woodruff was one of the best starting pitchers not just in the National League Central, but in the entire NL. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just 11 starts last season and played a major role in the Milwaukee Brewers non-tendering the righty.

Now in late January, Woodruff remains un-signed. In need of a team for the 2024 season, the Pirates would appear to be a great fit for Woodruff. He could sign a one-year deal with the club in an effort to rebuild his value, and he could do so while pitching in a division he is very familiar with and comfortable pitching in.

When on the mound last season, woodruff posted a 2.28 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 5.9% walk rate, and a 29.2% strikeout rate in 67.0 innings pitched. In his career, Woodruff owns a 3.10 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 6.5% walk rate, and a 28.9% strikeout rate in 680.1 innings pitched across 130 games, 115 of which have been starts.

Signing Woodruff would likely be a very low risk, potentially high reward move for the Pirates. If Woodruff is healthy and pitching the way he has his entire career, he immediately becomes the team's best starting pitcher. At that point, worst case scenario, he would be a great piece of trade bait in July if they Pirates are out of contention.