‘We Have the Stuff to be an Elite Bullpen,’ How Pirates Can Fix Woes (+)
In another disappointing season of Pittsburgh Pirates’ baseball in 2024, the bullpen struggles very well might have been the biggest surprise.
The feeling was that entering the season, the Pirates would rely on their bullpen to shorten games and help propel them towards contention after a 14-win improvement in 2023.
Instead, what looked to be the team’s biggest asset turned into a major problem. Collectively, the Pirates had a 4.49 ERA from their relief pitchers. Only three teams had a worse mark than that, and like Pittsburgh, they all finished in last place in their respective divisions.
Looking at the state of the bullpen, the Pirates are returning a handful of pitchers who had prominent roles in 2024. They are down several left-handers, however. Aroldis Chapman signed a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox earlier in the offseason. Jalen Beeks and Ryan Borucki are both currently free agents.
Despite a poor showing in 2024, the Pirates feel that their bullpen has a chance to be much better than they were a season ago.
While optimism is always high this time of year, I do feel like the Pirates’ bullpen could be much improved this coming year. Here’s why and what’s needed to ensure that happens.
David Bednar Bounces Back
Ultimately, the Pirates’ bullpen in 2025 will be as good as its closer. After three terrific seasons to start his career in Pittsburgh, Bednar scuffled last season and the Pirates’ bullpen fell way short of expectations.
Bednar finished last year with a 5.77 ERA and blew seven of his 30 save opportunities. Prior to his 2024 struggles, Bednar was an All-Star in both 2022-23.
If Bednar can bounce back and be more like the pitcher he was in his first three seasons with the Pirates, the bullpen will see vast improvement.
The 30-year-old is confident he will turn things around.
“I’ve never been more ready to go and just dialed in and hungry to get back to knowing who I am,” Bednar said at PiratesFest in Pittsburgh last weekend. “The biggest thing is, I know the pitcher I am and will be this year and what I expect of myself and what my teammates will expect of me as well.”
More Experienced
The Pirates have several young arms who logged significant innings in 2024 and figure prominently into the bullpen plans this coming season.
Carmen Mlodzinski, after a strong rookie showing , went 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA and held opponents to a .223 batting average in his second big-league season.
Kyle Nicolas battled command issues at times but was still effective. The 25-year-old went 2-2 with a 3.95 ERA in his first full-season with the Pirates.
Then there’s Dennis Santana, who was acquired during the season and became the Pirates’ most effective relief pitcher. Though the 28-year-old is more experienced than Mlodzinski and Nicolas, he never threw as many innings as last year and had the best results of his career.
“I’m definitely encouraged,” Bednar explained. “There’s a lot of good, young arms. I know we’ve been saying that, but those guys have been getting more and more innings and more and more leverage innings. It’s been really cool watching their process develop.”
Nicolas, who has the stuff to pitch in high-leverage situations, has high hopes.
“The experience is key,” he said. “A lot of younger guys that now have more experience, and we have the stuff to be an elite bullpen.”
New Pirates Bullpen Coach
One of several staff shakeups the Pirates made this offseason was replacing former bullpen coach Justin Meccage with Miguel Perez.
Perez, who has been a player or coach in the Pirates’ organization for 17 seasons, had been the manager at Triple-A Indianapolis for the past three seasons.
Perez managed a few guys who will be in the Pirates’ bullpen next season at Indianapolis. One is Nicolas, who had nothing but good things to say about the newest Pirates’ coach.
“I’m fired up. He’s awesome,” Nicolas said. “He was great to have in Indy. All the guys respect him. All the guys love him, and I’m excited for him to be in Pittsburgh and to be able to work with him. It’s gonna be awesome.”
One New Pirates Addition… And Potentially More
The only external MLB free agent the Pirates have brought in this offseason to date is left-hander Caleb Ferguson, who was signed to a one-year deal.
Ferguson finished last season with a 4.64 ERA but a healthier 3.74 FIP. Across six big-league seasons, the 28-year-old is 19-13 with a 3.68 ERA and six saves.
Additionally, the Pirates made several smaller trades to add bullpen depth. They acquired Peter Strzelecki, Brett de Geus and Chase Shugart at various points this offseason.
While bullpen competition could lead to one or two of those guys cracking the Opening Day roster, the Pirates should still be seeking an additional bullpen upgrade.
General manager Ben Cherington said he is not done adding to the roster this offseason and there are plenty of relief options still on the market.
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