The Pittsburgh Pirates are making some noise this offseason-and not just the kind that fades into the background. After years of relatively quiet winters, they’re showing signs of a team ready to turn the corner, or at least start acting like it.
While the pursuit of big names like Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suarez didn’t pan out, the front office hasn’t sat idle. With additions like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn already in the fold, the Pirates are staying aggressive, and now they’re adding another layer to their pitching depth chart.
The team has signed veteran right-hander Mike Clevinger to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. It’s a low-risk move with the potential for solid upside-a classic “let’s see what he’s got left in the tank” type of signing. At 35 years old, Clevinger brings nearly a decade of big-league experience, and while his most recent seasons haven’t exactly inspired confidence, his career résumé still carries weight.
Let’s talk about the recent numbers first-because they’re not pretty. In 2025, Clevinger made just eight appearances out of the bullpen for the White Sox, posting a 7.94 ERA.
The year before wasn’t much better: a 6.75 ERA across four starts. That’s a tough two-year stretch by any measure, and it’s fair to wonder what kind of version of Clevinger the Pirates are getting.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Prior to that downturn, Clevinger was a very different pitcher.
From his rookie season through 2023, he posted a 3.32 ERA over 128 starts and 135 total games. That’s not just solid-that’s legitimate mid-rotation production over a sustained period.
He was the kind of arm you could pencil in every fifth day and feel good about it. Injuries and inconsistency have taken their toll, but the track record is there.
This isn’t a move meant to headline the offseason. It’s a depth play, and a smart one at that.
Every team needs a few arms in the system with big-league experience, especially those who’ve shown they can handle a starting role. Clevinger fits that mold.
If he shows something in Spring Training-velocity, command, durability-he could earn a spot in the rotation or at least serve as a valuable swingman. If not, the Pirates aren’t on the hook for much.
That’s the beauty of a minor league deal with an invite: it’s a no-lose scenario.
The Pirates are still in the market for another starter and a power bat, and this move doesn’t change that. But what it does do is give them another option, another look, another possible contributor. And in a 162-game grind, those kinds of moves matter more than they get credit for.
So while the Clevinger signing won’t dominate headlines, it’s the kind of calculated risk that can pay off quietly but meaningfully. If he finds even a flicker of his old form, Pittsburgh just added a veteran arm to bolster a staff that needs innings and experience.
If not? They move on.
No harm, no foul.