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Perrotto: Three Free-Agent Relievers Pirates Should Consider

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Pittsburgh Pirates, Kirby Yates

The Pittsburgh Pirates showed their commitment to David Bednar last week.



The two sides agreed to a $5.9-million contract for 2025 that avoided a potential salary arbitration hearing.

While Pirates general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton have stopped short of anointing Bednar as the closer when the upcoming season begins, money always talks with the franchise. There is no way the Pirates will pay Bednar nearly $6 million with the idea of being a set-up man or middle reliever.

Bednar followed two All-Star seasons by converting just 23 of 30 save opportunities last year and posting a 5.77 ERA in 62 games. The ERA was 3.5 runs higher than his 2.25 combined mark from 2021-23.

The Pirates profess confidence in Bednar having a bounce-back 2025. It is deserved. He was one of the top relievers in the major leagues for three years.

Yet what if Bednar’s 2024 season wasn’t a fluke? What if the 30-year-old has entered the decline phase of his career?

Considering closers often have a short shelf life, what will the Pirates do if Bednar struggles this year?

The Pirates don’t have anyone with significant closing experience on their roster. Maybe Colin Holderman or Dennis Santana could handle the role but they have no track record. The same applies to Carmen Mlodzinski and Kyle Nicolas.

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson, who signed a one-year, $3-million contract last Friday as a free agent, has six career major-league saves in six seasons.

Thus, it would be in the Pirates’ best interests to sign a veteran pitcher who has handled the closer’s role. While they aren’t going to spend what it will take to land lefty Tanner Scott, the best free-agent reliever remaining, some other alternatives could come at a relatively modest cost.

Here is a look at three of them:

KIRBY YATES

Yates had an All-Star season with the Texas Rangers last year. He converted 33 of 34 save chances and had a 1.17 ERA and 0.827 WHIP in 61 games and 85 strikeouts in 61.2 innings while making just $4.5 million.

Perhaps age discrimination is at work here because Yates will be 38 when the season opens. Yet he can still pitch at a high level – his ERA was 3.28 in 61 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2023 – and it is baffling that he remains on the market with spring training a month away.

This probably doesn’t mean anything but Yates’ brother, Tyler, pitched in 84 games combined for the Pirates in 2008 and 2009, including a workhorse-like 72 in that first season.

DAVID ROBERTSON

Robertson is another geriatric – in a baseball sense – reliever as he will celebrate his 40th birthday on April 9. However, like Yates, Robertson had a fine season with the Rangers in 2024.

Robertson pitched to a 3.00 ERA in 68 games and recorded two saves. He also struck out 99 batters in 72 innings with a 1.111 WHIP. Robertson has amassed 177 saves during his 16-year career.

Considering he turned down a $7-million mutual option with the Rangers for 2025, Robertson probably wants more than that. However, prices tend to drop at this point in the offseason.

A.J. MINTER

The 31-year-old left-hander is a potential health risk as he underwent hip surgery in September. However, that could play in the Pirates’ favor as Minter may be amenable to a contract with a lower base salary and reachable performance bonuses.

Minter made $6.22 million last season when he was limited to 39 games with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched well, though, with a 2.62 ERA, 1.019 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

Minter had only one save last season. However, he recorded 10 two years ago and 15 as a rookie in 2018.

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