Pirates predicted to trade for $55 million 3.35 ERA star starting pitcher to create formidable 1-2 punch with Paul Skenes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the more explosive teams this offseason, and have made major improvements to their roster. They’ve gotten some bats to improve their offense, which was one of the worst in the MLB last season, but they haven’t addressed their other issue.
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That issue being some solid starting pitching to help Paul Skenes. Fansided’s Christopher Kline proposes that Pittsburgh makes a deal with a former trade partner, the Boston Red Sox, for their young star, Brayan Bello.
“The Pittsburgh Pirates were late entrants in the Framber Valdez sweepstakes, to no avail. The Boston Red Sox have a surplus of pitchers, in part due to acquiring Johan Oviedo from Pittsburgh earlier this winter. The Red Sox would do well to clear a path for Connelly Early or Payton Tolle. The Pirates, meanwhile, could use a more dependable fifth starter as Jared Jones ramps up his rehab.Brayan Bello offers a similar profile to Valdez, only he’s six years younger and far more affordable…Under club control through at least 2029 at less than $10 million annually, Bello should have no trouble delivering on the value of his contract. Pittsburgh can solidify one of the best pitching staffs in baseball for years to come,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Bello posted an 11-9 record, a 3.35 ERA, 124 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.236 over 166 innings pitched. He would be a great middle-of-the-rotation pitcher, but with the Pirates’ rotation, he’d serve as a decent No. 2 to Skenes.
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And, as Kline mentioned, he’d be much more affordable than Framber Valdez, who was Pittsburgh’s top target until he signed with the Detroit Tigers. Valdez signed for three-years, $115 million, and the Pirates could get Bello for at least four years of his six-year, $55 million contract.
Hopefully, the Pirates either make this move or something like it soon, as Spring Training is right around the corner.
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