After not having a winning season since 2018 (82-79), the Pittsburgh Pirates have done well to build around Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes this offseason.
The Pirates showed a willingness to compete when they signed free agent first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to their first multi-year free agent contract since 2016 and traded for All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Despite an uphill battle in a division that contains the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates are showing interest in All-Star starter Framber Valdez, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Valdez would push the Pirates into closer contention with the three teams ahead of them in the National League Central.
Valdez could show a willingness to sign with Pittsburgh, given that the Pirates hired his former pitching coach, Bill Murphy, over the winter, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Even though Valdez is a two-time All-Star and a multiple top-10 finisher for the Cy Young Award, his image has taken a hit after hitting his own catcher, Cesar Salazar, with a pitch last season and then turning his back on him.