Pirates' Deadline Moves Signal Belief in 2026
The 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone. What began as a relatively quiet day for the Pittsburgh Pirates ended with a flurry of moves that all shared one common theme: the bullpen.
If you've read any of my Pirates columns over the past three months, you know I had little faith in the bullpen Ben Cherington assembled entering the season. Who could blame me? The Pirates blew 20 of their 42 save opportunities before heading to Milwaukee, and the bullpen's 4.43 ERA ranked 23rd in Major League Baseball.
Cherington heard the criticism and responded.
The overhaul began over the weekend when the Pirates acquired Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees. On the surface, Doval's 2026 numbers don't inspire much confidence. Just one of his 109 career saves came this season, and he carries an ERA north of 4.60. Dig a little deeper, though, and there's reason for optimism. Doval owns a 7.08 ERA at Yankee Stadium but has posted a 1.86 ERA everywhere else. Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a pitcher needs, and the Pirates are betting that's the case.
Cherington wasn't finished.
Minutes before the deadline, Pittsburgh acquired veteran right-hander Kirby Yates from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Kyle Robinson. Yates, 39, has appeared in 31 games with a 3.95 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .202 batting average. Between Yates and Doval, the Pirates added more than 200 career saves and two veterans who have pitched in countless high-leverage situations.
The additions didn't stop there.
Pittsburgh also landed right-hander Lake Bachar from the Miami Marlins. Bachar has quietly put together a strong season, posting a 3.38 ERA across 58.2 innings. Over the past two seasons, he has struck out 136 batters in 129.2 innings. Swing-and-miss stuff always plays in today's game, especially in the late innings.
The headline acquisition, however, may be Luke Weaver.
Acquired from the New York Mets in exchange for Sammy Stafura, Weaver appears set to take over as Pittsburgh's primary closer. While he has just 13 career saves, he has been one of baseball's best relievers this season, posting a 1.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 44 innings. His career numbers don't jump off the page, but his 2026 performance certainly does.
Whether every acquisition works remains to be seen, but one thing is undeniable: Cherington identified the Pirates' biggest weakness and attacked it aggressively.
His job may very well depend on it.
An average bullpen likely has the Pirates fighting for the NL Central lead instead of sitting in the middle of the Wild Card race. Rather than hoping internal options would improve, Cherington brought in four experienced relievers to completely reshape the back end of games.
In total, the Pirates added pitchers with a combined 223 career saves.
The one area Pittsburgh didn't address externally was adding a right-handed bat after Ryan O'Hearn's devastating injury. But perhaps the organization didn't feel it had to.
First baseman Spencer Horwitz returned from the injured list Sunday after missing significant time with a broken finger. Dynamic center fielder Oneil Cruz is eligible to return Aug. 7. Before their injuries, the pair combined for 24 home runs and 67 RBIs while enjoying the best offensive seasons of their careers. Replacing O'Hearn's production internally may prove just as valuable as making another trade.
The final domino fell Monday when veteran starter Mitch Keller landed on the 60-day injured list after another difficult outing in Cincinnati. Keller's ERA ballooned to 5.29 over 115.2 innings, leaving him with a negative WAR. His absence likely opens the door for Carmen Mlodzinski to rejoin the starting rotation, a move many Pirates fans have been hoping to see.
When the day began, I wasn't convinced this team had enough pitching to make a legitimate postseason push.
When it ended, I felt differently.
The Pirates sit just 3½ games out of the final National League Wild Card spot despite losing seven of their last 10 games. The offense has proven it can score with anyone. The question has always been whether the pitching could hold leads.
At this deadline, Ben Cherington finally gave the bullpen the attention it desperately needed.
Now it's up to the new arms to prove they were worth it.
