The Pirates’ push toward 2027 is going to require more than wishful thinking. If Pittsburgh wants to snap its postseason drought, the front office has to find value - the kind of signings that won’t wreck the budget but still move the roster forward.
That’s where a few lower-cost free agents come into the picture. The Pirates don’t need splashy additions as much as they need smart ones, and three names fit that description.
Brooks Raley stands out as a bullpen fit. The left-hander would give Pittsburgh a veteran arm and, at 39 next season, would also be the oldest player on the roster by a wide margin. Age aside, he’s been dependable for most of the last several years, and he hasn’t finished a season with an ERA above 4.00 since 2021.
Raley doesn’t win with big velocity. His game is built around a sweeper at 80.8 mph, a cutter at 86.7 mph, a sinker at 90.3 mph and, at times, a changeup at 84.4 mph. He gets by by forcing weak contact, posting one of the lowest hard-hit rates in baseball, while showing strong command and pitch location.
His 2026 season split into two very different stretches. With the New York Mets, he was excellent early, putting up a 1.96 ERA in 45 outings and 41.1 innings with a .204 BAA and a 1.09 WHIP.
After the Philadelphia Phillies grabbed him at the trade deadline, things unraveled fast: a 7.94 ERA in 16 appearances and 11.1 innings, plus a .347 BAA and a 1.94 WHIP. That rough finish could keep his price down, which is exactly why Pittsburgh might be able to get involved.
There’s also a connection there, since Raley worked with Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy in 2021 when both were with the Houston Astros.
Another affordable target is Edmundo Sosa, a multiposition player who would give the Pirates useful depth. He’s spent most of his time at second base, shortstop and third base, and he also played left field last season. For a team that can never have enough coverage on the infield, that kind of flexibility matters.
Sosa also brings a respectable bat. He hit .256/.306/.417 for a .723 OPS, and his expected numbers point to some favorable regression ahead.
Jared Triolo already gives Pittsburgh a sturdy utility piece, but Sosa could add another layer of protection across the roster. Paired with Triolo - and with Konnor Griffin also in the mix - that would give the Pirates a strong defensive look in the infield.
A.J. Minter is the other left-handed arm who fits the bill.
The Mets had a strong bullpen in 2026, and Minter was part of it before being traded to the Minnesota Twins. He posted a 2.35 ERA in 23 outings and 23 innings with 20 strikeouts and two walks, along with a .236 BAA and a 1.00 WHIP.
After the deal, he stayed steady in Minnesota, recording a 2.78 ERA over 25 outings and 22.0 innings, with 21 strikeouts and six walks, a .218 BAA and a 1.10 WHIP.
Minter’s pitch mix includes a cutter, four-seam fastball, changeup and sinker. He isn’t built to overpower hitters, but he has remained remarkably consistent.
At 33 and coming off a two-year, $22 million deal, he may be available at a lower number this time around. For the Pirates, another veteran lefty would be a meaningful boost to the bullpen.
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