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Pittsburgh Pirates Add Ex-Yankees $6.7 Million Bust to Pitching Staff

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Feb 22, 2025 6:29 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates bolstered their pitching staff Saturday, inking journeyman starting pitcher Andrew Heaney to a one-year contract.

Heaney, 33, is guaranteed $5.5 million with additional performance incentives. The veteran lefty owns a 51-62 record and 4.45 ERA in 11 seasons for five teams.

Heaney went 5-14 with a mediocre 4.28 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) for the Texas Rangers last year. He’s bounced around the majors in recent years, pitching for four teams since the start of 2021.

At his best, Heaney is a solid back-of-the-rotation arm. Perhaps most importantly, Heaney exhibits strong control and only walked 41 in 160 innings a year ago.

Don’t dismiss Heaney’s ability to fool hitters, either. Heaney even tied the American League record with nine consecutive strikeouts in an April 2023 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Originally the Miami Marlins’ No. 9 pick in 2012, Heaney joined the Los Angeles Angels in a three-team trade ahead of the 2015 season. He stayed in Anaheim until the struggling Angels dealt him to the New York Yankees for two prospects in 2021.

Yankees fans shudder when they hear Heaney’s name.

Heaney is one of the more egregious Yankees busts in recent memory, posting a 7.32 ERA and allowing 13 home runs in 35.2 innings. The Yankees tired of him so quickly that they moved him to the bullpen after five starts.

Heaney and his $6.7 million salary weren’t long for New York. However, credit to Heaney for not letting his ugly Bronx tenure derail his career. He bounced back with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 before joining the Rangers.

It is unclear when Heaney will make his spring training debut.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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