MLB Offseason Round-Up: Pirates Add Catcher, Dodgers Interested in Giolito

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason. 

Well, it wasn’t their biggest need heading into the offseason. It wasn’t their second biggest need, either. Heck, it probably wasn’t even in their top five most pressing areas to address, but the Pittsburgh Pirates struck in free agency.

The club agreed to a one-year deal with catcher Ali Sánchez on Friday evening. He gets added to the current mix of catchers in Endy Rodríguez, Jason Delay and Henry Davis on the Pirates’ roster.

Sánchez briefly played in the big leagues between 2020-21 with the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. In 2023, he spent the entire season in Triple-A Reno in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization.

This isn’t the first time the Pirates added the 26-year-old Sánchez. Last October, the Bucs claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. They eventually lost him on waivers later in the offseason to Arizona.

Up next for the Pirates? There’s plenty of work to do, but starting pitching and first base are two of the most glaring holes currently on the Pirates’ roster.

Dodgers Eyeing Giolito

The Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be major players in the starting pitching market this MLB offseason, and they have interest in right-hander Lucas Giolito, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Giolito, 29, split his 2023 campaign between the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. After a strong start to his season with Chicago, Giolito stumbled down the stretch. He ended the year at 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA in a league-high 33 starts.

Giolito was an All-Star in 2019 and received Cy Young consideration for three-straight seasons from 2019-21. He’s fallen on hard times over the last two seasons with an ERA of nearly 5.00.

Other News and Notes

• The New York Yankees are interested in acquiring star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. Though the two sides have talked, talks have stalled, per multiple reports. No trade is close and there are other interested teams. It’s becoming increasingly likely that Soto is dealt this winter.
• According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres are all interested in free agent catcher Martín Maldonado.

PBN Links

Pirates Sign Catcher Ali Sánchez, Claim Pitcher Roddery Muñoz

Perrotto: A Winter Meetings Challenge Trade Pirates Should Make

Pirates All 40: What Challenges Will Triple-A Present to Tsung-Che Cheng?

Pirates Free Agent Face-Off: Michael Lorenzen vs. Sean Manaea

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