The Pittsburgh Pirates are still seeking a starting rotation addition before spring training, and they’re expressing interest in Noah Syndergaard, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.
In addition to the Pirates, the San Diego Padres are among the other teams with interest in the free agent right-hander.
It was a rough 2023 season for Syndergaard, who split time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians. The 31-year-old struggled mightily in a dozen starts with the Dodgers before he was flipped to Cleveland for infielder Amed Rosario in July.
In 18 starts between the two teams last year, Syndergaard went 2-6 with a 6.50 ERA with only 56 strikeouts in 88.2 innings pitched. He was plagued by the long ball and yielded 22 home runs on the season.
Though 2023 was a disaster, Syndergaard is just one year removed from a fine season on the mound. In 2022, he went 10-10 with a 3.94 ERA in 25 appearances/24 starts between the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies.
Early in his career, Syndergaard positioned himself as one of the better right-handed starters in baseball while with the New York Mets. From 2015-18, he compiled a 37-22 record with a 2.93 ERA in 87 appearances/86 starts. He was an All-Star in 2016 and received Cy Young and MVP consideration that year.
Injuries have plagued Syndergaard throughout his career. He did not pitch during the shortened-2020 season and tallied only two innings the following year.
The Pittsburgh Pirates would be looking to bring aboard Syndergaard as a bounce-back option. Though he is no longer the pitcher he was early in his career, maybe the Pirates can get him to look more like the 2022 version of himself than what he showed last year.
So far this offseason, the Pirates have already added a pair of left-handed pitchers to their rotation. Marco Gonzales was acquired in a deal with the Atlanta Braves, and Martín Pérez was signed to a one-year contract.
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