The Pittsburgh Pirates made a notable move ahead of the 2025 Winter Meetings, shipping right-hander Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox. On paper, it’s a trade involving a pitcher coming off a long injury layoff - Oviedo missed all of 2024 after Tommy John surgery and didn’t return until August 2025 due to a lat issue.
But when healthy, he’s been a workhorse for Pittsburgh. He made 32 starts back in 2023 and, despite the late-season return in 2025, still logged the fourth-most innings on the team down the stretch.
That said, the writing was on the wall for Oviedo’s future in Pittsburgh. The Pirates’ rotation is trending younger and more electric, with Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler forming a formidable front four.
Oviedo, had he stayed, would’ve entered spring training as a long shot for the final rotation spot. Even a bullpen role wasn’t guaranteed, and with his departure, the Pirates now have a roster spot open - and a few intriguing arms ready to seize it.
Let’s break down the leading candidates to fill that void.
Hunter Barco: The Rookie Lefty with Upside
If you’re looking for the most obvious replacement, Hunter Barco is your guy. The 2022 second-round pick turned heads in 2025, climbing from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis and dominating along the way. Across 99.1 innings, Barco posted a 2.81 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and 1.20 WHIP, striking out 27.8% of batters with a whiff rate just under 30% at Indy.
Yes, the walk rate was high - 11.8% - and that’s something the Pirates will want to keep an eye on. But the upside is undeniable. Barco even made his MLB debut late in the season, tossing three scoreless innings without allowing a walk and striking out three.
He’s not just a top-ten prospect in the Pirates’ system - MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 78 prospect in all of baseball after a dominant start to the year. And while it might feel unconventional to stash a top-100 prospect in the bullpen, Pittsburgh has done it before with success. This path would allow Barco to stay in the big leagues, get his feet wet, and contribute meaningful innings - even if it’s not in a starting role right away.
Thomas Harrington: A Bounce-Back Candidate
Thomas Harrington’s 2025 season didn’t go as planned. After entering the year as a consensus top-100 prospect, he struggled mightily in Triple-A, posting a 5.34 ERA and 5.55 FIP over 96 innings.
The strikeout and walk rates weren’t disastrous - 21.7% K-rate, 8% walk rate - but the long ball was a real issue. He gave up 1.88 home runs per nine innings and allowed hard contact far too often, with an average exit velocity of 90.5 mph.
His brief MLB stint didn’t go much better. In 8.2 innings, he gave up 15 earned runs - though it’s worth noting that one outing came at Coors Field, which isn’t exactly pitcher-friendly.
Still, Harrington’s pedigree matters. He was excellent in 2024, and the tools that made him a top prospect haven’t vanished.
The Pirates could ease him back into form by using him as a swingman - a hybrid role where he can pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen and spot start when needed. That would allow him to rebuild confidence and refine his approach without the pressure of anchoring a rotation spot.
It also opens the door for Barco to stay in the bullpen without forcing both young arms into the same role.
Brandan Bidois: The Bullpen Wild Card
Brandan Bidois might be the most intriguing name in the mix. The Pirates added the Australian right-hander to the 40-man roster to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft - and with good reason.
Bidois was lights-out in 2025, finishing with a 0.74 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 2.44 FIP over 61 innings. He struck out 30% of the batters he faced and didn’t allow a single home run all season.
That’s eye-popping stuff.
Bidois features a deep pitch mix, but he’s not projected as a starter due to a lengthy injury history and workload limitations. Still, he showed he can handle multiple innings - 17 of his 40 appearances lasted two frames, and 27 outings went beyond one inning.
He’s not going to give the Pirates 150 innings, but 60 to 70 solid frames from a high-upside reliever? That’s valuable.
His command remains a concern - he walked 11.7% of batters - but when he’s on, he’s dominant. Over his final 21.1 innings of the season, Bidois allowed just one hit, no earned runs, and struck out 25. That’s the kind of finish that earns you a long look in spring training.
The Bottom Line
Trading Johan Oviedo might sting on the surface - he was a reliable innings-eater when healthy - but the Pirates are clearly leaning into their youth movement. The rotation is getting crowded with high-ceiling arms, and the bullpen has no shortage of intriguing options.
Whether it’s Barco taking the reins as a multi-inning weapon, Harrington finding his footing in a swingman role, or Bidois unleashing his electric stuff out of the 'pen, the Pirates have options. And that’s a good problem to have.
In a division where every inning counts and depth is tested constantly, Pittsburgh is positioning itself to compete not just with talent, but with flexibility. Oviedo’s departure opens a door - now we wait to see who walks through it.