Pirates Will Pursue Left-Handed Pitchers This Offseason

The Pittsburgh club aims to add rotation depth for the 2027 season after posting a winning record.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Baseball

Pirates Will Pursue Left-Handed Pitchers This Offseason

Live Poll

Should your local sports team prioritize acquiring veteran free agents to strengthen their roster?

The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to pursue free-agent left-handed starting pitchers during the 2026-27 offseason. This move is intended to add balance to a rotation that already includes Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, and Braxton Ashcraft.

Why it matters

After finishing the 2026 season with an 82-80 record, the organization seeks to strengthen its pitching staff to remain competitive in the National League Central. Adding a left-handed starter is seen as a key step in building a more versatile rotation for 2027.

The 2026 Pirates pitching staff recorded 1,496 strikeouts and finished with an 82-80 record. Despite this performance, the team ranked 21st in the league for Defensive Runs Saved, while Paul Skenes ended the year with a 3.82 ERA.

The players

Paul Skenes

He is a standout starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who finished the 2026 season with a 3.82 ERA.

Braxton Ashcraft

He is a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who secured his first career All-Star selection in 2026.

Jared Jones

He serves as a member of the current starting pitching rotation for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bubba Chandler

He is a starting pitcher integrated into the Pittsburgh Pirates current rotation plans.

Trevor Rogers

He is a left-handed pitcher identified as a potential target in the upcoming free-agent market.

The details

The front office is currently evaluating the free-agent market, with players like Foster Griffin and Trevor Rogers expected to be available for acquisition. These additions would supplement a group that also includes Braxton Ashcraft, who earned his first All-Star selection in 2026.

The team recorded 1,496 strikeouts and finished 82-80 throughout the 2026 season.
The front office plans to pursue free-agent starters during the 2026-27 offseason.
The targeted timeline for the improved pitching rotation is the 2027 season.

Season Trajectory

The Pirates look to build upon their 82-80 finish in the 2026 season by addressing rotation gaps during the upcoming free agency cycle. Securing a left-handed starter is expected to improve the team's standing within the competitive National League Central for 2027.

Fans should monitor which left-handed starters are signed, as these additions will solidify the backend of the rotation alongside established arms like Skenes and Jones. This pursuit is a direct effort to improve the team's defensive and strikeout metrics after their 21st-place finish in Defensive Runs Saved.

The takeaway

The Pirates are prioritizing rotational balance to turn a winning season into a playoff-contending one for 2027. Fans can expect the team to be active in scouting left-handed talent throughout the offseason to address current pitching staff limitations.