Red Sox free-agent hurler could give Pirates perfect buy-low candidate to bolster the rotation

There's a delicate balancing act that Ben Cherington must undertake in order to fill all of the Pittsburgh Pirates' needs, build upon 2026's promising turnaround, and create a roster that can truly contend. Overspending in one area often means skimping on, or skipping over, another need entirely.

Brandon Lowe is the top priority, and the abbreviated nature of this offseason could create a situation in which a feeding frenzy ensues and the bidding gets wild. Right now, contract predictions for him run the gamut. Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) projects an unfathomably reasonable three years and $45 million for the star second baseman. Spotrac slots his market value at a heftier three years, $68.4 million. He could exceed both estimates.

Lowe is far from the only need. Pittsburgh also needs to add a left-handed starting pitcher, a right-handed power bat, and a couple of bullpen arms to be safe. Shoring up the bench after checking off all of those items would also be great. The dollars, they go fast.

Long-rumored Pirates' target Foster Griffin is projected to get three years for $67 million by Bowden. Trevor Rogers is pegged at a three-year, $64 million deal. 35-year-old Robbie Ray checks in at two years for $45 million. Through that lens, it seems as if it might be an either/or proposition between Lowe and a mid-rotation left-handed arm.

If Pittsburgh decides to dive into the bargain bin, Cherington might find a diamond in the rough, though. Former Boston Red Sox hurler Patrick Sandoval might not seem like much at first glance, but he'll be cheap and could provide a big payoff for the Pirates.

Underlying metrics make former Red Sox starter the Pirates' best bang-for-your-buck option for a lefty starter

Sandoval made 15 appearances (13 starts) for Boston, throwing 70 1/3 innings and posting a 5.12 ERA. That might seem like adding the left-handed version of Mitch Keller, who recorded a 5.29 ERA in 2026.

But Sandoval stands out in comparison by virtue of his 3.77 FIP, compared to Keller's 4.54 FIP. There are a few reasons for that strong peripheral number.

Sandoval posted a 34.6% hard-hit rate and 87.5 miles per hour average exit velocity, which are 78th percentile and 77th percentile performances, respectively. His 6.5% barrel rate came in as a 67th-percentile mark. Avoiding hard contact and damage-type balls in play is a good foundation to get outs, and when you throw in a 22.9% strikeout rate that's a hair above average, you've got some good stuff brewing.

Sandoval took the mound on July 9 for the first time since June 21, 2024. The southpaw had torn his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery, enduring multiple setbacks while on the comeback trail. It's reasonable to believe that he was still knocking off rust this year, and that the arrow is trending up for him moving forward.

The 30-year-old was once an up-and-coming young starter, with his peak coming as a 25-year-old in 2022, when he recorded a 2.91 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels. Expecting him to get back to those heights is foolish, but it does mean that there could be more in the tank. Additionally, his experience could be valuable for a young staff that's on the rise.

Arsenal-wise, Sandoval's changeup is a real weapon. Hitters managed just a .170 batting average against it, while whiffing 39.7% of the time. It allows him to handle right-handed hitters with relative ease. In the past, his slider had been a plus offering, but it was a liability in 2026, yielding a .300 batting average against. If Pittsburgh's coaching staff can get that back on track, he could dominate lefties.

Spotrac puts his market value at $ 2.4 million for a one-year deal, which would be a no-brainer. Sandoval might get a little more, but he's looking at one-year deals and likely won't receive more than $4-$5 million. At that rate, the Pirates should jump and pass the savings around to ensure they bring back Lowe while chipping away at other needs.

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