Pirates need to add a veteran starting pitcher

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 19: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks with Braxton Ashcraft #35, Mitch Keller #23 and Jared Jones #17 as he exits the game after the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the season with an 82-80 record. The highlight from this year’s team was the offense but the starting pitching was still solid this season. The question is should the Pirates add a veteran free agent arm for next season?

class="wp-block-paragraph">The answer in my mind is yes, Pittsburgh absolutely needs to add experience and depth to that starting rotation. This is still a mostly young rotation with Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler. Mitch Keller is one of the older starters on the club at 30 years old, so this is a very young group.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ashcraft was arguably the top pitcher for the Bucs with a 14-6 record and a 3.65 ERA. While Skenes finished with a 10-11 record 3.82 ERA. While both Keller and Jones missed serious time with injuries.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The first veteran pitcher I think the Pirates should look at is Nick Martinez from the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez helped lead the Rays to the World Series, where he had a 3.10 ERA over 31 starts while earning his first career All-Star nod in 2026. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but he averaged an MLB-low 1.30 walks per nine innings this year.

class="wp-block-paragraph"> The 36-year-old Martinez has a $20 million mutual option for 2027, but he seems likely to decline it and pursue a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Another Pitcher is Michael King from the San Diego Padres. King might be a little pricy, but I think he is worth it. The 31-year-old veteran is widely expected to opt out of the three-year, $75 million contract he signed with the Padres last December and re-enter free agency this winter. King struggled to stay healthy in 2025, but he bounced back to post a 3.21 ERA over 32 starts for San Diego this season.

class="wp-block-paragraph">There are other names like Freddy Peralta and Tarik Skubal, but those guys will probably be the most expensive starters on the market. The Bucs do have a good starting rotation, but if they add these names or another veteran arm I think it will improve that unit and the team.

class="wp-block-paragraph">I understand some of these pitchers might be a little expensive, but this needs to be the offseason where the front office spends money. There is a lot of young potential with this club, and you don’t want to waste it

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