Pirates Prioritizing One Position in Free Agency

Robert Suarez is another top-end relief pitcher that the Pirates and others will look at. He posted 36 saves in 42 opportunities in 2024 and 40 saves in 45 opportunities in 2025 with the San Diego Padres, earning All-Star nods both seasons and leading the NL in saves this past year.

Kenley Jansen is a long-time closer, doing so the past 14 seasons since 2012, with a plethora of postseason experience, something the Pirates will desire, as they try and end their decade-long abscence from the playoffs.

Jansen had 29 saves in 30 opportunities last season with the Los Angeles Angels and posted a 2.59 ERA.

Kirby Yates could serve as another reclamation project for Murphy and the Pirates after a poor season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yates, who will turn 39 years old in March, had 33 saves in 34 opportunities with the Texas Rangers in 2024.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said at the general manager meetings in Las Vegas two weeks ago that they have "flexibility" this offseason and will act "aggresively" in regards with free agents and trades.

Cherington also said at the end of the season that they have a good staff right now, but want to add onto it and make it even better in 2026.

"I think it gives us an opportunity," Cherington said on the young pitching staff. "It's a strong foundation and we're not satisfied. We had a good pitching season, overall effective pitching season, we can be better and we're just as focused on that candidly as the offensive side because wins come from everywhere and we can't take for granted that this part of the team is 'OK and we'll just focus over here.'"

"We've got the pitching talent in the organization, I believe, to have the chance to be really good. There may be opportunities to add to that in the offseason. So it's a good foundation but we're not satisfied. We've got to push it higher."

Do the Pirates Need a Closer?

The Pirates went with right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana in most situations as a closer and posted 11 saves in 13 opportunities.

They also have high-leverage pitchers in Isaac Mattson, Carmen Mlodzinski and Justin Lawrence, who could all do that closer role as well.

Pittsburgh likely wants more experience in that role for next season, while keeping those four pitchers involved and ready for that moment if need be.

The Pirates could also go by committee and have different people take the closer role, but recent reports show them going for a high-quality closer for 2026.