The Pirates’ bullpen problem has been loud for a while, and it only got louder when Evan Sisk went down with elbow inflammation. A month ago, Pittsburgh insider Noah Hiles was already sounding the alarm, and now the club’s relief situation looks even more urgent with the trade deadline approaching.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic thinks Ben Cherington should zero in on Luke Weaver of the New York Mets, and it’s easy to see why. Weaver brings the kind of flexibility Pittsburgh badly needs.
He’s been a starter before, so he can cover multiple innings. He can also handle the pressure spots that come before the ninth, and he has closing experience too, which he picked up after taking over as the New York Yankees’ closer from former Pirate Clay Holmes in September of 2024.
That versatility matters because the Pirates haven’t gotten steady late-inning work from Dennis Santana or Gregory Soto, and the path to the ninth has been shaky as well.
Weaver’s numbers make the case even stronger. Through 37 appearances and 39 innings, he owns a 1.85 ERA, a 2.49 FIP, a 28.7% strikeout rate and a 7.3% walk rate. He has produced 1.2 fWAR, which is almost the same as the 1.3 fWAR the Pirates’ entire bullpen has put together this season.
The 32-year-old would fit anywhere Pittsburgh needs him. He’s also under contract through 2027 at a $12.5 million salary, which isn’t cheap, but it is fair market value.
Even so, one arm won’t be enough. The Pirates probably need two or three relievers to really stabilize things, and Weaver may force Cherington to hunt for cheaper additions alongside him.
Bowden points to a few other names worth watching. Lake Bachar of the Miami Marlins is one, though Miami may be reluctant to sell after a strong June has put them in position to contend.
Aroldis Chapman is another, but the former Pirate is expected to be among the top relievers on the market. Garrett Whitlock of the Red Sox is described as the more sensible, cost-effective choice, though he still won’t come cheap.
Jimmy Hegret of the Colorado Rockies is also mentioned as a fit who shouldn’t cost much.
If the Pirates can land two or three of those arms, they’d get the bullpen overhaul they need, and it sounds like that kind of haul is at least possible for Cherington.
In Other News...
Paul Skenes Just Gave Pirates Fans Another Reason To Smile
Paul Skenes spent the MLB All-Star festivities doing what he has done so often for Pirates fans lately: giving them another reason to enjoy the moment. The young right-hander was in the middle of the leagues showcase in Philadelphia, where his presence alone has become part of the attraction, and he handled the spotlight with the same easy confidence that has made him such a compelling figure in Pittsburgh.
Along the way, Skenes also had a little fun with the kind of speculation that tends to follow stars once they start getting big-stage attention. When he crossed paths with young reporters in Yankees attire, he noticed the pinstripes and made the joke land, then later reacted with clear confusion when someone tried to label him a future Yankee. For Pirates fans, it was a small but welcome reminder that even in an event built around baseballs biggest names, Skenes still sounds very much like a player firmly in the present. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Just Took A Wild Card Gamble Fans Will Want To Track
With the Pirates hanging around the NL Wild Card race, the front office made a small but interesting roster move by adding outfielder Robert Hassell III from Washington in a deal that cost only cash considerations or a player to be named later. It is the kind of low-risk pickup contenders often make when they are looking for extra depth without sacrificing much, especially this time of year.
Hassell, a former first-round pick who once carried a lot of prospect buzz, had been designated for assignment by the Nationals before Pittsburgh stepped in. The move gives the Pirates another name to track as they try to stay in the race, and it also hints at how they are approaching the stretch run - looking for upside wherever they can find it, even if the next step for the newcomer is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Have An Awkward Marcell Ozuna Problem
Marcell Ozuna was one of the more notable offseason additions for Pittsburgh, a one-year bet meant to give the lineup some middle-of-the-order punch. Instead, the early returns have been rough, with Ozuna sitting at a .623 OPS and eight home runs in 250 plate appearances, production that has left the Pirates with far less than they hoped when they signed him.
Now the bigger issue is what that means as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches. If Pittsburgh decides to sell, Ozunas performance makes him a tricky piece to move, especially when other hitters around the league are drawing more obvious interest, leaving the Pirates to sort out whether this is a player they can still count on or one whose market has already cooled off. [Read more 🡒]