The Pirates have a bullpen problem, and it showed again in their road series loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 20 and July 22. Pittsburgh coughed up a lead in the first game of the doubleheader, then handed the home team a late edge after the game was tied in the seventh inning.
That kind of night is exactly why Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Yennier Cano fits the conversation as the trade deadline approaches. He’s one of several bullpen names the Pirates could target before Aug. 3, but there are clear reasons he stands out as a sensible option for a club looking for steadier late-inning work.
Cano has put together a strong season for Baltimore, logging a 2.41 ERA across 45 appearances and 33.2 innings pitched. He has held opponents to a .213 batting average and posted a 1.04 WHIP while often being asked to come in and get one or two outs.
The recent form has been just as encouraging. Over his last 19 appearances, Cano has worked 14.0 innings with a 1.93 ERA, allowing three runs, 14 hits and four walks while striking out 12.
The underlying numbers back up the performance. Cano has a 5.1% walk rate and a 64.0% ground-ball rate, which ranks second in baseball among pitchers with at least 100 batted ball events. That kind of profile plays in high-leverage spots, especially for a team that needs outs without extra traffic on the bases.
His sinker has been a weapon this year, producing a .177 BAA and a +8 run value, tied for the 11th-best sinker in baseball. His sweeper has also done damage in a different way, holding hitters to a .100 BAA and not allowing a home run, even though it averages only about 85.7 mph.
For Pittsburgh, the appeal goes beyond performance. Cano comes with team control and has two more years of arbitration, which would keep him under control through the 2028 season.
The Pirates need bullpen help in more than one form. A closer such as Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres would address one need, but Pittsburgh also needs reliable arms who can handle pressure and keep games from slipping away.
Cano would not require the kind of trade package Miller would, and he could give the Pirates help now while also providing value over the next two seasons. With an offense that has been one of the best in baseball, Pittsburgh needs the bullpen to hold up its end if it wants to push toward its first postseason since 2015.
In Other News...
Pirates Suddenly Look Serious About A Bullpen Move Fans Have Wanted
The Pirates are reportedly in the mix for one of the markets most electric bullpen arms, with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller drawing real interest ahead of the trade deadline. Miller has been dominant this season, the kind of late-inning weapon a contender can build around, and Pittsburgh is said to be weighing whether it wants to pay the kind of price such a pitcher commands.
What makes this pursuit notable is the level of talent the Pirates may have to put on the table to get it done, with major league pieces and prospects both in the conversation. No deal has been confirmed, but the fact that Pittsburgh is seriously exploring a move for a high-end closer suggests the front office is at least considering a far bolder bullpen upgrade than fans have been used to seeing. [Read more 🡒]
Endy Rodrguez Finally Took A Step Pirates Fans Needed To See
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The next step is less about one rehab box score than about how Rodrguez holds up as the workload increases. Pittsburgh wants him fully ready before he rejoins the major league club, and the club will keep easing him along while the catching picture shifts around him, giving him a path back without rushing the process. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Make Another Lineup Tweak With Bats Under Pressure Again
The Pirates shuffled their infield again for Fridays matchup with the Cubs, moving Nick Gonzales to second base, Jacob Gonzalez to shortstop and Jared Triolo over to third. Ryan OHearn was the only holdover from the previous games lineup, a reminder of how much manager Don Kelly has been searching for the right mix as the offense tries to find some traction.
The alignment was built with Chicago left-hander Shota Imanaga in mind, and Pittsburgh is hoping the new look can do more than just patch together a batting order for one night. Jacob Gonzalez, acquired from the White Sox on July 10, is making his fourth start at shortstop while filling in for injured Konnor Griffin, and the Pirates are leaning on a setup they already used in a 7-1 win over Cleveland on July 19. [Read more 🡒]