The Pittsburgh Pirates have most of their rotation set for the 2027 season. Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones, and Bubba Chandler are already penciled into the first four spots. The Bucs could use a lefty to change things up at the back of the rotation. A prime rebound candidate that will be on the open market this offseason is Kris Bubic, who should be one of the Pirates’ top pitching free agent candidates.
Bubic missed a good portion of the 2026 season with elbow and shoulder problems. However, when he was healthy, he was effective. Bubic pitched 56 innings with the Kansas City Royals and LA Dodgers, working to a 3.76 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and a 1.20 WHIP. While he walked 11.8% of opponents, he also had a solid 24.8% strikeout percentage. His 81st percentile ground ball rate (48.6%) helped him hold batters to a 0.65 HR/9 ratio.
Bubic isn’t far removed from an All-Star caliber 2025. During that season, he posted a 2.55 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and a 1.18 WHIP. His K% came in just under a quarter at 24.4% and had a 28.8% whiff rate. He also was better at preventing walks, with an 8.2% BB%, and a 32.5% chase rate. Bubic also had an excellent 87.6 MPH exit velocity (top 87th percentile) and 6.6% barrel rate (78th percentile).
Bubic sits 91-92 MPH with his fastball, but his above-average extension off the mound (81st percentile) and 17-18 inches of induced vertical break help his fastball play above its velocity. He used his change-up almost exclusively against right-handed batters, but was highly effective, holding them to a .133 wOBA. He throws two breaking pitches, including a low-80s sweeper and mid-80s slider. Along with a four-seamer, he’ll throw a sinker that also sits around 91-92 MPH.
Bubic would definitely give opponents a different look compared to the rest of the Pirates’ rotation. Skenes, Chandler, Jones, and Ashcraft all sit 95-100 MPH from the right side. The Pirates also did not have a left-handed starter this year. The only left-handed pitcher who started games for the Pirates this year was Mason Montgomery, who was used like an opener rather than a traditional starter.
Bubic fits the mold of free agent starters Cherington has pursued before. He is a veteran soft-tossing left-handed starter who is looking to rebound. Since 2020, Cherington has signed Derek Holland, Tyler Anderson, Jose Quintana, Rich Hill, Martin Perez, and Andrew Heaney, along with acquiring Marco Gonzales via trade. Many of them, specifically Anderson, Quintana, Perez, and Gonzales, were rebound candidates when the Pirates picked them up.
If the Pirates want to fill the back of their rotation with a left-handed starting pitcher, Kris Bubic should be at the top of their list. He is a prime rebound candidate if he can stay healthy. He is capable of being an All-Star starter when he is able to take the mound, and the Pirates likely would not have to break the bank to sign him.
