Pirates Make Free Agent Splash, Sign 2-Time All-Star Closer

We heard the shocking news earlier this week that the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking to make a huge splash in free agency, and made a big four-year offer to slugger Kyle Schwarber. As we now know, Schwarber decided to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal. The Pirates were thought to have offered over $100M at least.

Spurned, but not defeated, the Pirates swam back into the free agent pool—though in much, much shallower waters—to land themselves a former two-time All-Star closer in Gregory Soto.

Gregory Soto lands in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/ao9pNlycsV
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 10, 2025

Soto gets a one-year deal for $7.75 million (as we said, it's a far cry from the $100M+ they were throwing at Schwarber). No, it won't have the same impact as a 56-HR hitter like Schwarbs, but at least the Bucs are trying this offseason.

2-time All-Star Gregory Soto is no longer a closer, but a strong setup man

Soto, 30, hasn't been a closer for three years, since saving 30 games for the Detroit Tigers and earning his second straight honors for the Midsummer Classic in 2022. In the intervening years, he's bounced around between three teams, and compiled an ERA in and around 4.30, with a total of six saves over the three seasons. His 2025 was split between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets, posting a 4.18 ERA in 60 innings, with 10.4 strikeouts per nine.

The Pirates traded away their own longtime closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees at the deadline. But Dennis Santana took over the 9th inning duties after Bednar left, and staked a pretty strong claim to the job, nailing down 16 saves in 19 opportunities while holding batters to a stingy .179 average and .534 OPS.

Soto will slot in as Santana's setup man.