Pittsburgh Pirates News

MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds will return to a full-time role in left field this year, with Ryan O'Hearn playing in right field. Reynolds didn't play left field at all last year, but he has twice as many innings there (3,062 1/3) in his career than he has in right (1,402). The 31-year-old veteran has four straight seasons in which his defensive run value was in the negative, and the worst of those (minus-12) was in 2024 in his last year in left field. Reynolds implemented a pre-pitch "tennis hop" that helped him with his reaction time in 2025, though, and he's hoping that will help him as he returns to left field. The Bucs are taking some defensive risks this year in order to try to score more runs. The two-time All-Star had his worst statistical season offensively in 2025, hitting .245/.318/.402 with a .720 OPS, 16 homers, 73 RBI, 68 runs, and three steals in 154 games. Reynolds struck out more and hit more ground balls, although a better lineup around him could lead to a rebound. Fantasy managers may not want to expect Reynolds to return to his peak production, but he should make for a nice fourth or fifth outfielder.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds had a subpar season in 2025, but the underlying metrics indicate that he could bounce back in 2026. The veteran outfielder slashed just .245/.318/.402 with 16 home runs, all of which represent his lowest markets since the COVID-impacted 2020 season. He also finished last year with a 8.7% walk rate and a career-worst 26.5% strikeout rate. Most of his swing decision metrics are on par with his career averages, but he did post a 44.2% O-contact rate that indicates he had trouble connecting with pitches out of the zone. Still, the 31-year-old is a prime candidate for positive regression (returning to his pre-2025 form), and his .338 xwOBA from last year suggests that he can take a leap forward in 2026. Beyond the upside, there's also name value here, as Reynolds is a two-time All-Star who previously showed that he can contribute at the plate and in the field. He currently ranks as the #51 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander Jose Urquidy, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones' placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he's not projected to make his 2026 season debut until sometime in late May after he had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right arm last May. We'll have a clearer timetable for the 24-year-old once he begins to ramp up his throwing program. Despite the surgery, Jones has lots of long-term potential in Pittsburgh after impressing in his rookie campaign in 2024. In his first 22 big-league starts, the former second-rounder went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 frames. At best, Jones will be a speculative late-round selection in fantasy drafts this year, with the Bucs most likely handling him with extreme caution when he's finally back.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Ozuna was one of the top remaining bats on the open market and will look to provide a power spark to an improving Pittsburgh lineup. Last summer, Ozuna had a down year by his standards, hitting a low .232/.355/.400 line with a modest .755 OPS. He hit just 21 home runs. However, the year prior, Ozuna launched 39 long balls with a stellar .302/.378/.546 slash line. Despite the underwhelming 2025 season. Ozuna still generated a strong .354 xwOBA with an 11.4% barrel rate, suggesting he should see some positive regression in 2026. While his counting statistics may drop moving to this new lineup, he is a prime bounce-back candidate as he should return to the 30-HR mark in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball entering the 2026 season, made it look way too easy in his first year of pro ball in 2025, reaching Double-A at just 19 years old. The former ninth overall pick by the Bucs in 2024 hit .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games (563 plate appearances) with Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro, and Double-A Altoona. The Pirates might want to practice some patience with Griffin since he has played in just 21 games above A ball, but MLB.com speculates that it might be hard for Pittsburgh to keep him off the Opening Day roster if he continues to do what he did last year in spring training. Griffin has plus-plus speed, amazing athleticism, and is physical at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He has all the makings of a future superstar. Griffin should already be rostered in all keeper leagues, and his current 241 ADP should only continue to rise this spring in single-year leagues.

Colorado Rockies left-handed pitching prospect Sean Sullivan will attend MLB spring training. Sullivan is one of the top budding arms in the Colorado system and now has a path to make his MLB debut later in 2026. The southpaw is currently ranked as the team's No. 12 prospect on MLB.com. The former second-round selection out of Wake Forest spent the majority of his 2025 campaign with Double-A Hartford. Across 97 1/3 innings, the southpaw posted a strong 3.14 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. While he only struck out 95 hitters, he continued to keep his ratios low. In 2024, Sullivan carried a similar 2.11 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP across 115 1/3 innings split between Low-A and High-A. If he turns in a productive camp, managers should expect the left-hander to be in the mix for a first-half MLB debut.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Thursday, a source told Jason Mackey of PG Sports Now. The 30-year-old Mexican hurler has pitched for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers in his six-year MLB career, but he's thrown only 2 1/3 innings in the big leagues in the last two seasons after having right-elbow surgery. The 30-year-old appeared in 49 games (48 starts) for the Astros from 2021 to 2022 and was solid with a 3.81 ERA (4.42 FIP), 1.09 WHIP with 224 strikeouts and 57 walks in 271 1/3 innings pitched. Urquidy had Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. Given the stout nature of Pittsburgh's starting rotation going into the 2026 season, it's unlikely that Urquidy will win an Opening Day starting spot, but he'll give the Bucs some valuable depth and could operate as a swingman. He has a career 19.6% strikeout rate, which limits his fantasy upside.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is expected to be in serious competition for a starting job during spring training. The Pirates acquired Garcia from the Red Sox earlier in December in a package that sent Johan Oviedo to Boston. Garcia made a brief debut in the major leagues last season, posting a .143/.333/.286 line in a short five-game stint. The 23-year-old spent the majority of his season in the minor leagues. At Double-A, he would post a .256/.355/.393 slash line with three home runs and four stolen bases, across a 33-game stint. Over an 81-game look at Triple-A, Garcia took a step further, posting a .271/.334/.498 line with a .832 OPS and 18 long balls. Given his power upside, he is worth monitoring in deeper five-outfielder leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) might have to move to second base or the outfield this season, according to Kevin Gorman of TribLIVE. Rodriguez was developed as a catcher and made his MLB debut in 2023, but injuries limited him to just 18 minor league games and 18 major league games across the last two years. At the big-league level in 2025, he slashed just .173/.246/.250 with an 8.8% walk rate, a 24.6% strikeout rate, and 38 wRC+. It's not like his glove was enough to justify putting his bat in the lineup, either. He threw out just two of 10 baserunners and finished the year with -2 FRV. As Gorman notes, Joey Bart and Henry Davis are Pittsburgh's primary catchers right now. The spoils of the starting role will belong to whichever backstop has a better spring, while the other catcher slots into a backup role. That doesn't leave much clarity for Rodriguez and fellow depth catcher Rafael Flores. Presumably, only one of Rodriguez or Flores can make the team. In the past, first base would have been a natural Plan B for either player. However, Pittsburgh is all set there with Spencer Horwitz and Ryan O'Hearn, forcing the club to get creative. As of now, Gorman projects that it'll be Rodriguez who makes the team. He has a little more defensive versatility and is expected to make appearances at second base and in the outfield. His disappointing results at the plate leave him off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft is projected to earn a spot in the starting rotation, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Injuries plagued Ashcraft for several consecutive seasons, but he got over the injury bug with a healthy season in 2025. He made 26 appearances (eight starts) in the majors last year, pitching to a 2.78 FIP with 9.17 K/9 and 3.10 BB/9. He also made 10 starts at the Triple-A level, where he logged an additional 48.1 innings of work. Ashcraft's ability to remain effective and stay healthy has put him in the mix for a 26-man roster spot, and Stumpf's article seems to confirm that the Pirates' fourth rotation spot is his to lose. He'll join Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, and Mitch Keller in this impressive Pittsburgh pitching staff. He currently ranks as the #96 starting pitcher in the latest RotoBaller fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent right-hander Mike Clevinger to a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jason Mackey of PG Sports Now. Clevinger, a nine-year MLB veteran, appeared in only eight games in relief in 2025 for the Chicago White Sox and was not effective, allowing five earned runs on five hits while walking eight and striking out three. The 35-year-old veteran was then sent to Triple-A Charlotte, where he remained for the rest of the season. The strength of the Pirates' major-league roster is their starting rotation, so Clevinger is an extreme long shot to get an opportunity as a starter for the Bucs at any point this coming season. Expect him to start at Triple-A Indianapolis if he sticks with the team after spring training.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes established himself as one of MLB's premier hurlers in 2025, posting a 10-10 record with a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 216 strikeouts across 187 2/3 innings pitched. The 23-year-old was unanimously named the National League Cy Young Award winner in just his second big-league season. With a career K-BB rate of 25% across 320 2/3 MLB innings, Skenes' underlying numbers support his dominance. From a fantasy perspective, wins are the one category where Skenes provided middling production in 2025, particularly relative to other high-end starting pitching options. While the Pirates don't profile as a juggernaut in 2026, they have made some steps towards contention this offseason by adding veteran infielders Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn. With a better supporting cast around him, Skenes could reach yet another level in 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Yorke is expected to compete for a utility role during spring training, according to Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now. Yorke made his MLB debut during the 2024 campaign but has yet to earn an extended stint in the big leagues. In 2024, Yorke appeared in only 11 games and saw his role slightly increase last summer, logging 22 games. Across these 33 contests, the former 17th overall pick has held a .226/.272/.340 line with a low .612 OPS. Yorke has hit just three home runs and swiped three bags. However, through 104 games with Triple-A Indianapolis last season, Yorke carried a .287/.348/.406 line with seven home runs and 17 stolen bases, showing his potential to be a five-category contributor. With Brandon Lowe covering the keystone, Yorke will likely compete for a utility role in the infield, serving as a complementary option to third baseman Jared Triolo and shortstop Nick Gonzales. He is worth monitoring in camp for managers in deeper 15+ team formats.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions twice a week as he continues his rehab program, he told John Perrotto of PiratesRoundtable. Jones experienced UCL discomfort last spring and ultimately underwent an internal brace procedure in May. As a result, he hasn't pitched in a game since his rookie season in 2024. During that campaign, he tossed 121.2 innings across 22 starts with a 3.78 xFIP, 9.76 K/9, and 2.88 BB/9. At just 24 years old, he brings plenty of upside to a young Pirates rotation that also features Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler. Perrotto said that, although the Pirates don't have an exact timetable for Jones' recovery, a June return seems realistic at the moment. He currently ranks as the #139 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz has reportedly worked hard this offseason to improve his body and the issues he had last season. Cruz said there was no time to relax and immediately got back to work when he got home. The 27-year-old wants to focus on getting better, which is exactly what the Pirates want to hear from Cruz, who struggled last season. In 2025, Cruz posted a .200/.298/.378 slash line with 20 home runs, 61 RBI, and 38 stolen bases in 135 games. Before that, Cruz was a 2.5 WAR player during the 2024 campaign. The Pirates are hopeful that Cruz and bounce back and return to the type of production that he was giving during the 2024 season.

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed prospect pitcher Hunter Barco is expected to compete for a role in the starting rotation during spring training. Last season, the southpaw was promoted in September for his MLB debut. Across three innings of work (all out of the bullpen), the lefty did not allow a run and struck out three hitters. He began 2025 with Double-A but needed only 25 2/3 innings to prove he was ready to join Triple-A. During this brief stint at Double-A, the left-hander did not allow a run and held a dominant 0.70 WHIP. At Triple-A Indianapolis, Barco logged 73 2/3 innings with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He tallied 82 strikeouts and 42 walks. Managers in deeper leagues should keep an eye on his progress in camp, as he will likely be competing for a starting role alongside Thomas Harrington. If he can crack the rotation, he would have sleeper appeal in deeper 12+ team formats, given his strikeout potential.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder Konnor Griffin is among the Pirates' invites to big-league spring training this year, according to the team. Per MLB Pipeline, Griffin is considered the top prospect in baseball in 2026. The 19-year-old turned heads in his first year in the minors for the Bucs in 2025, hitting .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs, and 65 stolen bases in 122 combined games with Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro, and Double-A Altoona. Depending on how he looks in spring training, Griffin has a real chance to be the first teenager to debut in the big leagues since Juan Soto in 2018. Griffin is expected to compete for the starting shortstop job this spring. Griffin is a premium all-around athlete with plus-plus speed, and he certainly has the looks of a future fantasy superstar, potentially as early as 2026.

Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Konnor Griffin is considered the No. 1 prospect in the entire sport on MLB.com and is quickly climbing the minor leagues. Last summer, the former ninth-overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft made his professional debut with Low-A but finished the season with Double-A Altoona. Through 101 games split between Low-A and High-A, the 19-year-old posted an elite .332/.414/.524 line with a .937 OPS. He hit 16 home runs and swiped 59 bases. Then, during his first 21 games at Double-A, Griffin continued to play at an elite level, carrying a .337/.418/.542 line with five home runs and six stolen bases. Given his impressive rise through the minor leagues, Girffin could be in play to not only make his MLB debut early in 2026 but potentially out of spring training. Reports earlier this offseason suggest that the Pirates may give Griffin an opportunity to claim the shortstop job. Even if it is unlikely for Griffin to debut in the majors at the start of this season, he should be in the mix to reach the big leagues by the second half.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Bubba Chandler has seen his fantasy stock rise following his strong conclusion to the season, as he appears poised for a breakout campaign in 2026. Chandler made his MLB debut with the Pirates in late August of 2025. Through his first 31 1/3 innings in the big leagues, the right-hander posted a modest 4.01 ERA with a stellar 0.93 WHIP. However, his ERA is significantly inflated due to the nine-run outing on September 7. Removing this one fluke outing, the 23-year-old would have instead carried a dominant 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 28:1 K:BB across 28 2/3 innings in the big leagues. While Chandler struggled at times at Triple-A before his promotion, once he reached Pittsburgh, the top prospect looked like his typical self. Seeing that he showed elite command and above-average strikeout upside, Chandler could enjoy an impressive first full season in the big leagues and is worth viewing as an SP3/SP4 with upside.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher Chris Devenski to a minor-league contract. The 35-year-old spent the entire 2025 campaign with the New York Mets. He spent the majority of his campaign with Triple-A Syracuse as he logged just 16 2/3 innings in Queens. However, during his brief stint in the majors, the veteran was effective, posting a strong 2.16 ERA with a 0.90 WHIP. He struck out 14 hitters and allowed only five walks. Through 37 2/3 innings of relief in the top level of the minor leagues, Devenski earned four saves and held a 3.35 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. Managers should expect Devenski to compete for a low-leverage role in the Mets bullpen during Spring Training. If he can earn a spot, he would likely not hold much fantasy value, as he would be projected to be deployed in a low-leverage role.