The Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation is mostly set. Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Mitch Keller, and Braxton Ashcraft make up their 1-4. The fifth spot is still up for grabs, and the competition is mainly between three hurlers. However, according to 93.7 The Fan producer/host Austin Bechtold, the Pirates may look to solidify that final spot. Bechtold states that Pirates insider Jason Mackey thinks the Bucs will look to add a fifth starter before the first game of the season.

For the Pirates’ Rotation, Lucas Giolito is the Best (and only) Upgrade Available

As things stand right now, there is really only one remaining free agent starter worth the Pirates’ time. That’s former All-Star Lucas Giolito. After a down 2022 and 2023, and missing all of 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery, the right-hander rebounded with the Boston Red Sox in 2025. Giolito pitched 145 innings, working to a 3.41 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and 1.290 WHIP. His 9.1% walk rate and 1.06 HR/9 ratio were roughly league-average, but he posted a sub-20% strikeout rate at 19.7%.

Pirates insider @JMackey_PGH thinks the #Pirates could still sign a 5th starter, but it’s getting less likely two weeks before Opening Day.

Jason thinks, at this point, that starter would not be on the Opening Day roster to start the year.

— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) March 12, 2026

Giolito’s season was solid, but there were certainly some red flags. He gave up his fair share of hard contact, with a 90.3 MPH exit velocity and 9% barrel percentage. Both were below the 40th percentile of pitchers in 2025. His 10.6% K-BB% was a far cry from the 19.8% mark he had in 2019-2023. That all led to an uninspiring 4.59 xFIP and 4.65 SIERA. FanGraphs Stuff+ put him at just 92, compared to 102 from 2020-2023.

For what it’s worth, it was Giolito’s first season back from a major elbow surgery. Giolito is only 31 and turns 32 on July 14th. The Pirates could work with him as their fifth starter. However, the Pirates are only left with him as a viable option. None of the other options present an upgrade over what the Bucs have internally.

Slim Pickings After Giolito

Patrick Corbin is arguably the second-best starter left on the free agent market. Since 2020, he has led the league in hits and earned runs allowed on three occasions. His 2025 season with the Texas Rangers was a step up from his final five seasons with the Washington Nationals. He also had a 4.06 xFI and 4.36 SIERA throughout his final 21 outings of the season. However, as he enters his age-36 season, the Pirates would likely be better off with Hunter Barco than with Patrick Corbin.

Old friend Tyler Anderson is still available. While he made 26 starts, he owned a poor 4.56 ERA, 5.60 FIP, and 1.408 WHIP. The veteran southpaw had a career-worst 1.85 HR/9 ratio and 11% barrel rate. He also had just a 7.8% K-BB%. Once again, if the Pirates want a lefty in the rotation, they’re more than likely better off with Barco in the rotation.

Marcus Stroman is another notable name still available. The right-hander was one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ best pitchers when Pirates’ GM Ben Cherington was the Jays’ vice president of baseball operations from 2016 through 2019. However, Stroman’s last two seasons with the New York Yankees didn’t go as planned. After struggling in 2024, Stroman only pitched 39 innings in 2025. He missed most of last season due to knee problems and was released at the beginning of August. However, after these three, the remaining free agents are mostly veteran depth pitchers and those who will return from injury in July or later.

Waiver Wire Alternatives

If the Pirates wait until the end of spring training, they may be able to find an alternative on waivers. The Bucs sent Bailey Falter to the Kansas City Royals during the 2025 trade deadline. However, he has no options left, and the Royals have plenty of rotation depth. Falter may end up getting DFA’d at the end of the pre-season. San Diego Padres’ knuckleballer Matt Waldron is also out of options. He doesn’t have a direct path to a starting rotation spot or a long relief role on the Padres.

New Isn’t Always Better

Most of the Pirates’ internal options, between Barco, Carmen Mlodzinski, Thomas Harrington, and José Urquidy, are better or have more upside than what they could sign. Plus, whoever they sign will have to start the year at Triple-A for the first week or two of the regular season, since they won’t get a full spring training. Unless the Pirates sign Lucas Giolito, they’re not making a significant upgrade to their current depth chart.

 

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