Veteran World Series Champion Pitcher Signed by the Pirates
The starting pitching free agent class in 2024 has been one of the best in recent years. The class was highlighted by big-time free agents like Blake Snell and Corbin Burnes, both of which signed mega deals with their respective teams. However, with the class being saturated with such talent, some of the middle-of-the-pack arms slipped through the cracks without getting any attention. Andrew Heaney, one of the more consistent starting pitchers over the past few years, has signed a new deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The deal is for a reported one year worth five million, which includes incentives.
Heaney is one of the starting pitchers who got very little attention this offseason. Although he’s not in Cy Young talks or is an all-star year in and year out, he is still a great depth piece that benefits any rotation he touches. Towards the beginning of his career, he was somewhat inconsistent from season to season, going from putting up seasons with an ERA in the low fours to having one that was seven plus. However, after joining the Dodgers in 2022, he had a career year and flipped the script on his career. He signed a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers and was a key piece in helping them win the 2023 World Series.
In the last two years, Heaney has shown the ability to stay healthy for a season and be consistent on the mound. He is not going to win the triple crown or have a sub-three ERA, but he is going to be a very valuable depth piece. As a starting pitcher, Heaney is going to give his team the chance to win every time he is on the mound. As the top free agents fly off the board, we must pay attention to these smaller signings. The big names make the headlines, but when the season gets into August and September, it is the smaller middle-of-the-pack veterans that help the team win. It is the experience and leadership in the clubhouse that help pick up the slack when the top names aren’t producing their usual numbers. Heaney will be a great piece to this team’s rotation and will make a subtle but strong impact during 2025.
