Pirates Have a Potential, Yet Unlikely Future Closer on Their Hands

Isaac Mattson Could Step In as Pirates Closer

Last month, the Pirates traded David Bednar, who had been their closer since 2022. Dennis Santana has since taken over the role, a job for which he auditioned earlier in the year when Bednar was sent to Triple-A. Santana has performed admirably in the role. He’s 4-5 with 13 saves, a 2.40 ERA, 3.22 FIP, and 0.917 WHIP going into Thursday’s schedule. His 2.1 WAR leads all Pirates pitchers not named Paul Skenes.

That said, it’s not a far-fetched notion that Santana could be traded after the season. The Pirates’ deadline deals pared payroll so that general manager Ben Cherington – or his successor if he’s fired – could add some much-needed hitters. Now the trick is to sign those hitters on the free agent market. It won’t be an easy trick. Cherington recently said on the MLB Trade Rumors podcast that it’s difficult to get free agents to come to Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often says he wants “volunteers, not hostages.” Not finding volunteers, Cherington may have to trade for hostages. He’ll have to give up good players to get good players. That might mean dangling Santana in front of potential trade partners. (Cherington has largely failed at acquiring hitters, but that’s not today’s topic.)

Enter Mattson

That brings us to Mattson. The Pirates recalled him from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 20. He’s pitched like he doesn’t want to go back. Working his way into a high-leverage role, he’s 3-2 with a 2.31 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 1.026 WHIP, and nine “holds.” Opponents have been held to a .193/.266/.293 slash line. Mattson has solid strikeout and walk rates of 26.4 and 8.2 percent, respectively. He relies on a four-seam fastball, which he throws 77.1 percent of the time. Averaging 94 mph, it generates a 27.8 percent whiff rate. He also throws a slider, curve, and, less frequently, a changeup.

The Last Word

So, we return to the notion that Santana could be traded to acquire offense. It makes sense, given that the Pirates will be dealing from strength. They’ve also done well under Cherington, developing relief pitchers that they pick up from baseball’s scrap heap. Can a 30-year-old journeyman who suddenly found success in 2025 become a major league closer in 2026? This writer has always thought that the modern belief that it takes a special talent or makeup to pitch in the ninth inning with a lead is nonsense. When a pitcher has put in the work, persevered to the point where he went to the Frontier League, and made it to the big time, it defies logic that he’d wet his pants over the prospect of a save situation.

Furthermore, baseball history is full of tales of closers who didn’t fit the profile at first. Generally, closers aren’t developed. They just “happen.” For example, Kent Tekulve, the Pirates’ bullpen ace when they won the 1979 World Series (nobody called them closers back then), was cut from his high school team. All he did was save 184 games in the majors. It will be interesting to see whether the Pirates ever give Mattson the opportunity.