The Pittsburgh Pirates' trade deadline moves have been a success.
To the Pittsburgh Pirates’ credit, the front office identified where the team needed to improve most and made several moves to address that weakness.
The Pirates desperately needed more bullpen help and back-end relief, and they got just that in a series of trades for Camilo Doval, Luke Weaver, and Kirby Yates.
It’s been just over three weeks since these pitchers joined the Pirates, and each of them is doing their part and performing in the role that the front office envisioned for them.
Doval has been phenomenal for the Pirates. He’s appeared in 10 games, owns a 1.80 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP while averaging just over one strikeout per inning. It looks like the veteran arm really did need to get away from Yankee Stadium, based on his road and away splits when he was with the New York Yankees.
Luke Weaver’s 5.40 ERA with the Pirates doesn’t tell the full story of how he’s pitched for the Pirates. The right-hander had one outing in which he gave up three earned runs, but outside of that, Weaver has pitched a scoreless inning in four of his five appearances with Pittsburgh.
Even Kirby Yates is pitching beyond expectations at 39 years old. In his 10 games with Pittsburgh, the right-hander has only given up eight hits and two earned runs. It’s hard to be upset with that production.
Aug 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Camilo Doval (75) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesBeyond limiting damage on the mound, manager Don Kelly also credited Weaver and Yates with helping the group through the experience they bring.
“A lot of wisdom and hearing the conversations that are constantly taking place between those two and other guys on the pitching staff has been awesome to hear,” Kelly said.
“Just their willingness to be teammates and part that shared experience that they've gone through trying to help the guys out. It's been great.”
The most disappointing part of these moves, though, is that the Pirates as a team have not sustained the same level of play since the beginning of the season. Over the last three weeks, Pittsburgh has a 7-14 record and is sliding out of the National League Wild Card race.
The addition of these back-end relievers hasn’t been as important, considering the team hasn’t had a lead late in games on many occasions.
Pittsburgh’s second-half collapse could end up being the storyline of the season, but it’s hard to look at Pittsburgh trade deadline additions and fault them for it.
