MLB Trade Rumors.com com has compiled its list of the top 50 free agents heading into the 2024 season.
Out of those 50, four are rumored to be possibly connected to the Pirates and no, Shohei Ohtani isn’t one of them.
First on the list is Jack Flaherty, 22nd overall on the list, who would likely cost $40 million over three years.
He had two stints on the Injured List last season. He didn’t make his first start of 2023 due to shoulder inflammation and then after a few stars, ended back on the IL with a shoulder strain.
Flaherty was traded to the Orioles at trade deadline and posted a 6.75 ERA going 1 – 3 over nine games, seven starts with Baltimore.
His career ERA is 3.75.
Next is pitcher Sean Manaea, coming in at 35. He would cost $22 million over two years.
Manaea struggled early on for the Giants in 2023, but became “quietly strong’ in the middle part of the season.
“From May 11 through September 6, Manaea tossed 67 2/3 innings across 25 relief appearances.
He posted a 3.86 ERA, struck out over 28% of batters faced and held opponents to a .216/.293/.340 line,” MLB Trade Rumors said.
The lefty went 7 – 6 last season with a 4.44 ERA in 37 games, 10 starts.
The next player linked to the Pirates is 34-year-old Jason Heyward at number 42.
He was released by the Cubs in 2022 and spent his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Heyward slashed .269/.340/.473 over 377 plate appearances last season with 15 home runs and 40 RBI.
Rounding out the potential signings for the Pirates is Brandon Belt, another longtime MLB vet. Belt would likely cost $15 million for one year, Heyward would be $16 million, two years.
After 12 seasons with San Francisco, belt played for the Blue Jays last season and maintained a batting average of .254 OBP .369 and slugged .490.
Heyward and Belt would be rental players at 34 and 35-years-old respectively.
The two pitchers could add a middle to backend arm in the rotation, but none of the players linked to the Pirates seem to be a real game changer for the Pirates, looking to take another step forward in 2024.