The Pittsburgh Pirates already made one splash by landing Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees, but that move alone doesn’t close the book on their deadline business. If Pittsburgh wants to give itself the best shot at ending a 10-year playoff drought, the bullpen still needs more help, and a few intriguing names are still hanging around.
One of the most proven options is Kenley Jansen. At 38 years old, he’s in the twilight of a long career, but he has still been effective for the Detroit Tigers this season.
In 33 appearances covering 29 2/3 innings, Jansen has put up a 3.94 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 13 saves. The underlying numbers back it up, too: a 32.9 percent hard-hit rate, a 3.43 xERA and a .196 xBA.
He may not overpower hitters anymore, but he remains a dependable right-handed late-game arm, which is exactly the kind of help Pittsburgh needs. Jansen also carries a $12 million club option for 2027, though it can be bought out for $2 million.
Another name worth watching is Ben Joyce Zeferjahn. The Los Angeles Angels already kicked off their deadline sell-off by trading a right-handed starting pitcher to the Toronto Blue Jays, and Zeferjahn could be next.
Even after sending another controllable reliever, Chase Silseth, to the Texas Rangers last week, the Angels still appear open to moving Zeferjahn if the return is right. The 28-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.66 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings this season.
His xBA of .161 ranks in the 100th percentile according to Baseball Savant, and his 34.6 percent whiff rate sits in the 96th percentile. He also does a strong job limiting hard contact and won’t hit free agency until after the 2030 season.
The asking price should be steep, but Pittsburgh should at least be willing to pay it.
The Pirates were also linked to Brooks Raley and Huascar Brazoban, but both of those veteran relievers are already off the board. The New York Mets dealt Raley to the Philadelphia Phillies and Brazoban to the Chicago White Sox, leaving Luke Weaver as the main bullpen arm still available from New York.
Weaver has been excellent for the Mets since signing a two-year, $22 million deal in the offseason, working as their set-up man with a 1.84 ERA and 2.82 FIP across 44 innings. He won’t come cheap, and the $11 million salary attached to 2027 could complicate negotiations, but he fits in Pittsburgh’s bullpen alongside Gregory Soto, Mason Montgomery, Evan Sisk and Doval.
In Other News...
Former Pirates Catcher Had A Deadline Twist Fans Wont Believe
The 2026 MLB trade deadline had a distinctly familiar feel around former Pirates, with several ex-Pittsburgh players on the move as contenders shuffled their rosters. Jack Suwinski, Caleb Ferguson and Jameson Taillon all found new homes, a reminder that once a player leaves Pittsburgh, his path through July can still wind up intersecting with the Pirates in unexpected ways.
Joey Bart, though, was the headliner in the most unusual way. He started the season in Pittsburgh, landed on the injured list with a foot infection, and then kept changing addresses in a hurry as the deadline drama unfolded, a sequence that left him tied to three organizations in less than three months. And before the deadline dust settled, Bart was moved again, this time ending up with the White Sox after a stop with the Braves, a twist that made his season one of the stranger Pirates-adjacent stories of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Quietly Explored A Catcher Move With Bigger Roster Implications
The Pirates were said to be looking beyond the obvious areas as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approached, with catcher help at least coming up in internal discussions. Pittsburghs focus remained on the bullpen and outfield, but the fact that the club also explored the catching market says a lot about how front offices can use a deadline to examine longer-range roster fits, not just immediate fixes.
One name that surfaced in those talks was Hunter Goodman, a productive young catcher who has emerged as one of Colorados more intriguing trade pieces. A move for him would come with real cost and plenty of complication, which is why the idea never felt like a simple deadline add, and why it remains unclear whether Pittsburgh would have been willing to go the distance if the opportunity had become more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Bullpen Crunch Just Put Another Veteran On The Outside
The Pirates keep churning the edges of the roster, and this latest round brought another familiar bullpen name into the conversation. Pittsburgh selected Ronny Simns contract after releasing designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, then reinstated left-hander Evan Sisk from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander Wilber Dotel to make the alignment work.
Chris Devenskis return was the move that stood out most for the relief group. Activated from the 60-day injured list, the veteran right-hander cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis, a reminder of how quickly the bullpen picture can change when the Pirates start squeezing for spots and trying to keep the most useful arms available. [Read more 🡒]