Perrotto: Which Free Agents Should Pirates Re-Sign?

Last month, the Pittsburgh Baseball Now staff suggested which free agents the Pittsburgh Pirates should sign this winter.

However, what we didn’t do was suggest the Pirates retain any of their players who filed for free agency. Those six players are left-hander Marco Gonzales, left-handed relievers Jalen Beeks, Ryan Borucki and Aroldis Chapman, catcher Yasmani Grandal and designated hitter Andrew McCutchen.

Chapman is off of the board after agreeing to a one-year, $10.75-million contract with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

The easiest choice of the six to re-sign is McCutchen, He is a franchise legend and wants to continue to play at age 38.

However, McCutchen is more than a resident icon for the Pirates. He still has value, even though he has become almost exclusively a DH after making 13 appearances in the outfield in two seasons since returning to the Pirates.

McCutchen provides enough production to help an offense that finished in the bottom third of the major leagues in every major statistical category. In 2024, he batted .232/.328/.411 with 20 home runs in 120 games.

If McCutchen is willing to return on a one-year, $5-million contract for a third straight season – he is, by all indications – then the Pirates should get the deal done.

Joey Wentz is the only left-handed reliever on the Pirates’ 40-man roster after Beeks, Borucki and Chapman reached the open market. Wentz had a 1.50 ERA in eight games late last season after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

Yet it is hard to imagine the Pirates beginning spring training with Wentz as their top lefty reliever. The 27-year-old has a 5.56 career ERA in 205.2 innings.

The Pirates paid Chapman $10.5 million last season, which is a lot of money for a low-budget franchise. While the seven-time All-Star’s ERA was just 3.79 in 68 games, he had 14 saves and struck out 98 in 61.2 innings.

Chapman will turn 37 during spring training but still throws hard and effectively. The Pirates should spend most of their money on hitting this winter, but I would have taken Chapman back at $10.75. Then again, the Red Sox are a more attractive spot than the Pirates.

Beeks’ ERA was 3.92 over 26 games this year after the Pirates acquired him from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline. Borucki was limited to 14 appearances in 2024 because of injuries.

Beeks was a bargain last season with a $1.68-million salary and the Pirates should at least consider retaining him if the price is reasonable. The only way they should re-sign Borucki is on a minor-league contract.

The veteran Grandal provided value last season at $2.5 million. He had a .228/.304/.400 slash line with nine home runs in 72 games while helping develop Paul Skenes into the National League Rookie of the Year.

Yet it is difficult to see how Grandal fits the Pirates’ roster in 2025. He is 36 and the Pirates have catching depth with Joey Bart, Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis and Jason Delay on the 40-man roster.

Gonzales made seven starts for the Pirates this year and had a 4.54 ERA before undergoing season-ending forearm surgery. His availability for 2025 is in doubt. The 32-year-old also started just 10 times for the Seattle Mariners last year.

Gonzales is a great guy, and I liked it when the Pirates traded for him at last year’s Winter Meetings. Sadly, it didn’t work out and it’s time for the Pirates to cut ties.

Thus, the Pirates’ decision on Gonzales is easy. He’s a good guy but can’t be counted on after missing much of the 2024 season.