The strength of the Pittsburgh Pirates is their pitching staff. Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, while Mitch Keller is a solid No. 2 option. Jared Jones is set to return from his injury this season, and Bubba Chandler is ready to pitch a full year in the Major Leagues. But there is one pitcher left in free agency that would help any team win games. That pitcher is Framber Valdez.
Valdez has had plenty of interest this offseason, but has yet to sign a contract. The cross-up incident from last season may be a factor in him still being a free agent, but there is no doubt that the left-hander would make any pitching staff stronger.
The Pirates are not an exception. Their staff is already very strong, but Valdez would be a second ace on the team. Pittsburgh has expressed interest in the All-Star starting pitcher, as well.
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required), the Pirates are one of the most aggressive teams pursuing Valdez in recent days.
Pirates’ Case For Framber Valdez
GettyThe Pirates have been aggressive in their pursuit of Framber Valdez.
There is one major factor to consider with the Pirates’ pursuit of Valdez. That is the pitching coach in Pittsburgh.
Bill Murphy is the new pitching coach at PNC Park, and the Pirates are happy to have him. He was with the Houston Astros for the past 10 years and has worked closely with Valdez in the past.
With the Astros, Murphy started as a minor league pitching coach before making his way up to the Majors starting in 2021. His experience and track record of success should excite Pirates’ fans. But he could also be a reason Pittsburgh can land Valdez in free agency.
The Pirates also have a very small payroll. They have just under $111 million in cap space, so there is money to be spent should they choose to make an offer. Whether it be long-term or short-term with opt-outs, the Pirates can afford Valdez.
The Case Against the Pirates
GettyFramber Valdez may prefer a team ready to win now.
The problem with the Pirates is their lack of competitiveness. Pittsburgh has had a very good offseason, but the question is whether or not it is enough to make them a winning ball club. The offense is still lacking in some areas, and there are real concerns about whether they will be able to give the pitching staff run support.
Valdez is coming from a winning organization. He may not want to go to a team that is rebuilding, especially in his prime. There are other teams ready to win now that might be able to offer Valdez a better deal than the Pirates.
The Pirates still have a lot of work to do before they become a team ready to make a postseason run. The starting rotation gives them hope for 2026, but the offense is not quite there yet. If Valdez chooses to go elsewhere, it will not be a surprise.
Pirates Aiming To Strengthen Pitching Staff With Pursuit of Top Free Agent