The Pittsburgh Pirates could look to add a left-handed starter this offseason, and one pitcher currently in the playoffs has been identified as a potential fit.
Foster Griffin and Trevor Rogers are both expected to be available in free agency, with Griffin currently with the Cleveland Guardians. The Pirates were identified as a team that could benefit from adding either left-hander as they build toward the 2027 season.
According to a recent report from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, Griffin and Rogers are the probable names the Pirates could explore.
“They could use a left-handed starter, and there will be two available in free agency in Foster Griffin and Trevor Rogers, either of whom would be a great fit. They finally found their closer in southpaw Mason Montgomery, and now the Pirates have a legitimate playoff-worthy pitching staff,” Bowden wrote.
Pittsburgh finished 82-80 and third in the National League Central in 2026. The team already has a young rotation led by Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft, but adding another left-handed option could give the group more balance.
Article Continues BelowSkenes finished 2026 with a 3.82 ERA after posting a sub-2.00 ERA during his first two major league seasons. Jones missed the first two months while recovering from internal brace surgery before finishing the season strongly.
Ashcraft also took a step forward in his first full MLB season as a starter and earned his first All-Star selection.
The Pirates' pitching staff recorded a franchise-record 1,496 strikeouts in 2026, the fifth-most in MLB. Pittsburgh's bullpen also improved after the trade deadline, while Mason Montgomery established himself as the team's closer.
Adding Griffin or Rogers would give the Pirates another established option alongside their young right-handed starters. The team could also benefit from improving its defense after ranking 21st in Defensive Runs Saved.