Paul Skenes and Framber Valdez in the same rotation? The Pirates are reportedly pushing to make that a reality.
Pittsburgh is aggressively pursuing Valdez, the top starting pitcher left in free agency, according to a report Wednesday by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Signing the left-hander would strengthen the club’s impressive starting staff and reunite Valdez with Bill Murphy, who was named the Pirates' pitching coach in October after a decade in the Astros' organization as a Minor and Major League coach.
The Pirates are among several suitors for the two-time All-Star. The Orioles have been linked to him throughout the offseason, and the Blue Jays are involved as well, as reported by MLB Network insiders Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on Tuesday.
Any team that signs Valdez would have to surrender a Draft pick since he received -- and declined -- the qualifying offer from the Astros.
The Pirates have set out this winter to improve an offense that ranked last in the Majors in runs (583) and OPS (.655) last season. Although their reported pursuits of Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez came up short, they did sign first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year deal and acquired slugging second baseman Brandon Lowe as part of a three-team trade with the Rays and Astros.
Pittsburgh may not be done adding to its lineup either; Rosenthal reports that the Bucs are targeting free-agent designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who is one year removed from a 39-homer campaign with the Braves.
But landing Valdez would be the splashiest move of the Pirates’ offseason and give them one of the game’s most talented rotations, with him and Skenes fronting a group that also includes Mitch Keller, top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Jared Jones, who is making his way back from right elbow surgery.