Tuesday, November 03

Welcome to the first November edition of the Pirates Beat newsletter. Free agency is officially upon us.

PITTSBURGH -- November has begun, and with Monday marking five days since the Brewers won the World Series, free agency is now open.

The Pirates utilized the free-agent market last season to bolster their lineup and bullpen, signing Ryan O’Hearn and Gregory Soto.

Soto and veteran second baseman Brandon Lowe are the Pirates' only players hitting free agency -- excluding Kirby Yates, who plans to retire. With Pittsburgh looking to bolster its roster again to snap an 11-year postseason drought, let’s take a look at some matches that make sense for the Pirates.

As shown through moves for Lowe, Mason Montgomery and other key pieces, general manager Ben Cherington isn’t afraid to swing a trade if needed, too. Soto and Lowe would be great fits for Pittsburgh in 2027, building on productive and underrated seasons with the club. But for the purpose of this exercise, we will take a look elsewhere on the market.

1) Foster Griffin, LHP
31 years old, entering fourth MLB season

After playing three years in Japan, the left-hander returned to the Major Leagues on a one-year deal with the Nationals and became an All-Star. Griffin’s season evolved further after a midseason trade to Cleveland, where he started Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, and he finished with a 3.60 ERA and 15 wins.

What makes Griffin an intriguing option is his usage as both a reliable starter and a relief option in the postseason. With Mitch Keller’s future in question after a difficult season, Griffin also adds a left-handed option to the right-handed-filled rotation.

2) JoJo Romero, LHP
30 years old, entering eighth MLB season

Romero is an under-the-radar arm on the market that would add a stellar complement to Montgomery as a leverage left-handed option. Romero holds a 3.04 ERA and a 1.183 WHIP in 213 innings over the past four seasons. He finished this season as a strong contributor to the Brewers' World Series win.

Romero totaled 77 holds over the past three seasons, the fifth most in MLB. Soto is hitting free agency, and while he could re-sign with Milwaukee, Romero is a change of pace with lower velocity and more consistency in his sweeper and changeup.

3) Tyrone Taylor, OF
32 years old, entering ninth MLB season 

The Pirates’ offense took monumental leaps this season by setting a franchise single-season home run record (186) and ranking third in baseball in hits (1,404). Still, Pittsburgh's struggles against left-handed pitching plagued it all year, and the Pirates finished with just a .701 OPS as a team. Taylor, who recorded a .921 OPS against southpaws in 2026, could be a huge help, and he also rates as a plus defender.

Taylor produced a positive Fielding Run Value in the past six seasons, topping out at plus-eight in 2025. Pittsburgh’s outfield is shaping up with Bryan Reynolds in left, Oneil Cruz in center and Esmerlyn Valdez in right, with Jake Mangum as a solid bench option. The three could also see time at designated hitter, as Taylor has experience playing each position.

4) Alec Bohm, 3B
30 years old, entering eighth MLB season

Whether Lowe returns or not, Pittsburgh could be in the market for a short-term deal with a third baseman before Pirates' No. 4 prospect Murf Gray, the No. 89 prospect in baseball, is ready to be the everyday starter. Nick Gonzales could slide over to second if Lowe leaves, and Bohm could provide some pop at the hot corner.

Bohm doesn’t improve the defense much, but he’s driven in 70-plus runs in four of his past five seasons. He’s also another candidate to fix woes against lefties, recording a .816 OPS with 20 extra-base hits. Even if Lowe returns, Gonzales could be the odd man out to build an even stronger base in the infield.

5) Bryan Abreu, RHP
29 years old, entering ninth MLB season

To further bolster the bullpen, Abreu is an experienced arm with good value. He tallied 100-plus strikeouts in three consecutive seasons from 2023-25, a feat only achieved by 13 relievers in AL/NL history, including three in the 2020s: Abreu, Cade Smith and Mason Miller.

Abreu also has a track record with pitching coach Bill Murphy from his time with the Astros, developing from his debut at 22 years old in 2019 to a World Series champion. Abreu was part of the 2022 World Series roster, and he pitched to a 1.94 ERA in 60 1/3 innings during the season before hurling 11 1/3 scoreless postseason innings en route to a championship.

Other intriguing options
David Bednar is another back-end possibility, returning to a Pirates team now in contention for the postseason after he put together All-Star seasons amid tough years for the team (2022-23). ... Sean Newcomb is a left-handed option with flexibility as an opener and bullpen arm, similar to Griffin but cheaper. ... Randal Grichuk could play a role like the one described for Taylor, and Edmundo Sosa would improve defense at third base but might not fit with Jared Triolo already holding a similar role.

• Lowe receives qualifying offer after stellar debut season in Pittsburgh Read more >>
• Lowe and more Bucs could take home awards this year Read more >>

• How are Pirates prospects performing in AFL? Read more >>

The Pirates' free-agent signing of O’Hearn last offseason to a two-year, $29 million contract was their largest in total value to a position player off the open market. Who held the record before O’Hearn?

A. Clint Barmes 

B. Bryan Reynolds

C. Andrew McCutchen

D. Russell Martin

• “What Is Life” -- George Harrison

• “November Rain” -- Guns N’ Roses

• “The Light That Has Lighted the World” -- George Harrison

• “A Day in the Life” -- The Beatles

• “Lies Lies Lies” -- Morgan Wallen

D. Russell Martin

Martin signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Pirates ahead of the 2013 season, the largest off the open market. Barmes agreed to a two-year deal worth $10.5 million before 2012. The deals for Reynolds and McCutchen were both worth well north of the totals, but they were not off the free-agent market, instead coming as extensions.

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