Perrotto: Andrew Heaney Close to Where He Wants to Be

BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew Heaney harbors no bitterness as he gets set for his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The veteran left-hander wasn’t expected to break the bank when he entered free agency in November. However, it seemed reasonable to think that he would get multi-year contract offers following a solid two-year stint with the Texas Rangers.

Instead, Heaney remained on the market when spring training opened for most teams on Feb. 12. He signed a one-year, $5.25-million contract with the Pirates on Feb. 22, a major pay cut after making $13 million last season as part of a two-year, $25-million contract with the Rangers.

“It wasn’t too bad,” Heaney said about his offseason. “I mean, you don’t hope for that, but it didn’t really change my off season all that much. I did kind of what I would normally do. Once I knew I wasn’t going to be reporting to spring training when I normally would, I just kind of kept trying to go through a routine like I would be doing if I were in camp.

“So, it wasn’t a big adjustment and I’m happy to be with the Pirates. I’m looking forward to the season starting.”

The Pirates open the season Thursday when they visit the Marlins in Miami. Heaney will likely start Saturday in the third game of the four-game series.

The 33-year-old has one more Grapefruit League start remaining. Despite not arriving in Bradenton until 10 days into camp, Heaney feels like he has made up for lost time.

“I’m pretty close to where I should be,” Heaney said. “My last start was definitely the most normalized of the ones I’ve made this spring. I think this last one will be normal and I’ll be ready to go when the season begins.”

Heaney was 15-20 in his two seasons with the Rangers. He had a 4.22 ERA in 66 games, including 59 starts, with 310 strikeouts in 307.1 innings.

Heaney’s biggest highlight during his time in Texas was being the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the 2023 World Series. He limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run in five innings and the Rangers then wrapped up the lone title in franchise history one night later.

The Pirates deliberately looked to add veteran players with winning pedigrees during the offseason – and into spring training. They also feel Heaney’s pitching style is suited for PNC Park, which is friendly to lefty pitchers, and that he can be a stabilizer in a rotation that includes Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and left-hander Bailey Falter.

The Pirates hope Jared Jones, who is out with elbow soreness, will join the active roster early in the season.

While Keller is an established veteran, Skenes is just 22 and Jones is 23.

“They have some really talented pitchers here,” Heaney said with a smile. “I think I’m picking up a lot more tips from them than they are from me.”

However, Heaney knows that mentoring is part of being a veteran and is looking forward to working with a talented group of starting pitchers.

“Obviously, that was a big part of wanting to sign here, wanting to be part of that rotation and understanding this team on an upward trajectory,” Heaney said. “I’m excited to be here. It’s been good so far. I’m just trying to kind of slowly sort of come out of my shell and let my personality show a little bit.

“So, I’m just trying to sort of get to know guys and I’m excited for the season because I think that’s kind of where most guys get into their routine, get into your sort of smaller groups and sort of see guys more for who they are and how they are during the season. I’m kind of excited for that.”

Certainly, more excited than on the first day of spring training when he was still sitting at home.