Bucs sign hard-throwing righty (and converted outfielder) Alvarado

DALLAS -- The Pirates added to their bullpen depth options Tuesday, signing right-hander Elvis Alvarado to a Major League deal, per a source. It’s a split contract and pending a physical. The club has not confirmed.

Alvarado, 25, pitched 48 1/3 innings with the Marlins’ Triple-A team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, in 2024, with whom he recorded a 2.79 ERA and 71 strikeouts (33.2% strikeout rate) over 39 games. He walked 38 and had a 1.47 WHIP for the Marlins’ top affiliate.

A converted Minor League outfielder, Alvarado leans heavily on his four-seam fastball, which he threw approximately 73% of the time and averaged 98.1 mph last season. Hitters were held to a .164 batting average against his four-seamer and whiffed on 39.9% of their swings against it. His slider is his go-to breaking pitch, which got a 35.7% whiff rate last season, while hitters batted .125 against it.

The bullpen is a priority for the Pirates this offseason after finishing 27th in reliever ERA in 2024 (4.49). While Alvarado doesn’t factor into the team’s need for leverage relievers, he does provide some depth and potential upside at the moment.

The Pirates now have 37 players on their 40-man roster.