The Pirates aren’t exactly expected to open up the checkbook this winter, but they could be in contention for some high-profile free agents if The Athletic’s Jim Bowden is to be believed.
Bowden has spent the last several years analyzing MLB offseason markets, putting together lists of the most high-profile free agents and their potential fits. Pittsburgh has a healthy presence in 2024, with the club being viewed among the “best fits” for six of the 45 players listed.
The former big league executive ranked the players as well, and it doesn’t look like he expects Pirates general manager Ben Cherington to go bargain shopping.
The Pirates were tied to starting pitchers Michael Wacha (No. 19), Luis Severino (No. 36) and Jose Quintana (No. 44), relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (No. 35), outfielder Cody Bellinger (No. 14) and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (No. 27).
Pittsburgh doesn’t have a dire need for upgraded starting pitching, though bringing in a veteran certainly couldn’t hurt. The Pirates’ biggest swing would come in the form of Bellinger and/or Kim, however, as both would provide some much-needed upgrades to the defense and the middle of the lineup.
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