Bucs agree to 1-year deal with LHP Ferguson (source)

The Pirates entered the offseason with a desire to upgrade their bullpen, with the unit in clear need of a left-handed reliever. On Thursday, they added a southpaw, agreeing with Caleb Ferguson on a one-year, $3 million deal, per sources, but there is a chance the veteran could instead wind up in the Pirates’ rotation.

The team has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical.

Ferguson, 28, went 1-4 with a 4.64 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings with the Yankees and Astros last season, but pitched better in Houston after being dealt at the Trade Deadline (3.86 ERA, 2.88 FIP). Despite some struggles in New York, Ferguson still generated above-average peripherals in terms of strikeout rate (26.9%), average exit velocity allowed (88.2 mph) and ground-ball percentage (46.4%).

Those peripherals are more indicative to the quality of work he’s produced in recent years. Ferguson’s 3.37 ERA and 47.2% ground-ball rate since the start of the 2022 season are 13th among left-handed relief pitchers with at least 140 innings pitched. In 2023, he tied for the Dodgers’ lead in appearances and was ninth among qualified National League relievers in home runs allowed per nine innings (0.5 HR/9) and 14th in ground-ball rate (50.7%).

A lot of that success comes from his cutter, his second-most used pitch. Batters hit just .130 with a .148 slugging percentage against it last season, while it recorded a 33.6% whiff rate. His struggles last year usually centered around his four-seamer, which had a .309 batting average against and all six of his home runs allowed. Ferguson will also mix in a slurve and a sinker.

Assuming he sticks in the bullpen, Ferguson would be a much-needed boost. Starter Bailey Falter and reliever Joey Wentz are the only left-handed pitchers on the roster, and Wentz was a late-season waiver pickup who pitched just 12 innings with the Pirates in 2024. Last year’s bullpen did not live up to expectations, and they finished 27th in reliever ERA (4.49) and tied for third in blown saves (27). Left-handed relievers combined for a 4.73 ERA last season.

It’s not necessarily guaranteed Ferguson will be a reliever, though. The Pirates intend to stretch him out to potentially place him on a starter schedule in Spring Training, so there is a chance he could start. The team is going to want to learn more about him first. Ferguson has made 14 starts in his career, including seven in 2023, but almost all of those appearances have been as openers. He has not started a game and lasted three innings since 2018.

The rotation is the unquestioned strength of this team, led by Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones. The Bucs will also be getting Johan Oviedo back from Tommy John surgery this season and have three Top 100 prospects waiting in Triple-A (No. 15 Bubba Chandler, No. 85 Braxton Ashcraft and No. 91 Thomas Harrington). The team did trade Luis Ortiz at the Winter Meetings, thinning their starter depth a bit.

The Pirates’ 40-man roster is currently at 38 players, so a corresponding move will not be required once the deal is finalized.