Pirates Should Add Left-Handed Reliever in Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking to add some talent this offseason, as they were close to being a playoff team in the 2026 season. They finished with an 82-80 record and six games out of a National League Wild Card spot.

One position of need that Pittsburgh should address is adding another lefty out of the bullpen. Alex Vesia would fit that role well after spending the last six years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Vesia had a strong season in 2026, posting a 2.64 ERA with 74 strikeouts, 32 walks, three saves, and a 1.069 WHIP. 

The 30-year-old would be an added weapon in the Pirates bullpen alongside their other quality arms under contract, Mason Montgomery and Luke Weaver. Montgomery was a great reliever for Pittsburgh, recording a 2.88 ERA with 105 strikeouts, 26 walks, 18 saves, and a 1.034 WHIP.

Weaver didn't have the same success with the Pirates after he was acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Mets.

Weaver appeared in 42 games with the Mets, posting a 1.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a 0.818 WHIP. His numbers dropped significantly in 18 appearances with Pittsburgh, recording a 4.96 ERA with 20 strikeouts, five walks, and a 1.347 WHIP.

They will hope Weaver can be better in 2027 and post numbers closer to his time with the Mets. If the Pirates can then also add a bullpen arm of Vesia's caliber, it will give them some quality options to close out games. 

Pittsburgh will have a great rotation in front of the bullpen led by 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Skenes had a down year in 2026, but was still an All-Star. If he can get back to how he pitched in 2024 and 2025, it will help the Pirates end their playoff drought.

They also have Braxton Ashcraft, who earned an All-Star nod in 2026, posting a 3.65 ERA with 173 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a 1.089 WHIP. Pittsburgh also has Jared Jones, who had a solid campaign, recording a 3.72 ERA with 123 strikeouts, 31 walks, and a 1.082 WHIP.

The Pirates have a lot of great building blocks in place, and if they can re-sign some key pieces like Brandon Lowe while adding a talented lefty to their bullpen in Vesia, it will give them a legitimate chance of ending their 11-year playoff drought in the 2027 season.