This Free Agent Pitcher Named Best Fit for Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates made meaningful strides in the right direction during the 2026 season, but also still have some very clear needs heading into the offseason.

One area the Pirates must address this offseason is the starting rotation. Not just because there were some pitchers who underperformed, but because the pitching group as a whole was redundant.

One free agent arm who could help with that problem is Trevor Rogers, and Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently named the Pirates as a team that is a “best fit” for the veteran pitcher.

Looking at that potential fit, Rogers would clearly help Pittsburgh’s rotation for a variety of reasons.

First, Rogers is coming off a solid and healthy season. He made all 30 of his starts with the Baltimore Orioles and logged a 4.03 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

Rogers' off-speed run value has steadily dropped since 2025, but the Pirates should feel confident they can help it bounce back, given their recent history of pitching development. 

Second, he’s a left-hander, and Pittsburgh doesn’t have any southpaws in their rotation as it stands.

A team doesn’t need to have a pitcher with an opposite-handed throwing arm in the rotation, but it does keep opposing lineups off balance both literally in the batter’s box and figuratively in terms of lineup construction for that series.

Whether it’s Rogers or another southpaw, the Pirates should at the very least be looking to add a lefty into the mix for 2026.

Another reason this potential contract makes sense for the Pirates is Bowden’s predicted contract for Rogers. The former MLB general manager believes Rogers could get a deal worth around $64 million for three years.

This is similar to the contracts Sean Manaea signed with the New York Mets and Eduardo Rodriguez signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There is certainly some risk included with a deal of the magnitude, but if the Pirates' front office wants to prove for a second straight season they’re serious about contending for a playoff spot, this is the type of risk worth taking.

Rogers has been a fairly consistent pitcher throughout his career. He doesn’t generate a ton of hard contact or strike out a lot of hitters, but his command keeps him an efficient pitcher.

Pittsburgh should be looking to change up their rotation this offseason, and Rogers is the perfect candidate to do just that.