In an exciting move for baseball fans, the Pittsburgh Pirates have officially signed veteran right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to a minor league contract, allowing him to participate in their spring training as a non-roster invitee. This decision was announced earlier today and could signal a strategic effort by the Pirates to bolster their pitching options.
Clevinger, who spent the majority of the 2025 season playing in Triple-A for the Chicago White Sox, showcased a respectable performance with a 4.20 ERA, complemented by strikeout and walk rates that were around league averages—21.9% and 8.5%, respectively. Interestingly, although he began the last season in the major leagues with Chicago in a relief role, his tenure there was short-lived after a rough start led to five earned runs and eight walks over just 5 2/3 innings. He subsequently returned to the minors to rebuild his skills as a starting pitcher but didn’t get another opportunity with the White Sox at the major league level.
This marks Clevinger's ninth year of experience in Major League Baseball. He began his career as a solid starter with the Cleveland Indians, but his performance waned after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020. While he managed to maintain adequate run prevention numbers during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he struggled to replicate his earlier strikeout capabilities prior to his injury. Additionally, a neck issue that required surgery limited him to just four starts in 2024, casting a shadow over his impact in the league over the past couple of years.
The Pirates are currently exploring their rotation options, especially after trading away pitchers Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo in exchange for offensive reinforcements. With Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller leading the rotation, the team now has several young talents like Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft stepping up into their first full MLB seasons. Meanwhile, Jared Jones is still on the mend from a UCL surgery he underwent last year, leaving the position for the fifth starter wide open for competition among Hunter Barco, Thomas Harrington, and Carmen Mlodzinski. This situation makes the depth of their pitching staff particularly vulnerable, especially if injuries strike during spring training.
It seems likely that the Pirates are not done yet; they may still pursue at least one more significant addition to their starting rotation. Reports suggest they have even shown interest in Framber Valdez, despite the improbability of making such a high-profile signing given the team's historical spending patterns. If Valdez goes elsewhere, there remain several mid-rotation and back-end pitchers available on the market. Ultimately, signing Clevinger to a minor league deal should not hinder the Pirates’ efforts to acquire additional talent, as they will need experienced arms at Triple-A Indianapolis to manage any potential injuries that could arise during the season.
