The upcoming Pirates season has generated plenty of excitement and for good reason. The front office has finally opened the wallet, making meaningful investments after years of restraint. Still, questions linger across the roster, especially in the bullpen.
Last year, following the trade of David Bednar to the New York Yankees, Dennis Santana stepped up admirably as the closer. Originally a waiver claim in 2024, he had already shown promise in a limited showing that season. In 2025, Santana delivered an outstanding 2.18 ERA over 70.1 innings, collecting 16 saves along the way.
Most Pirates fans believe Santana will retain the closer role entering 2026, and that’s a reasonable expectation. This naturally shifts the focus to the setup man. Right now, the primary candidates are Gregory Soto and Isaac Mattson.
Soto, a two-time All-Star with Detroit, stands out as the biggest arm added this offseason. In 2025, he split time between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets. His stint in Baltimore was strong, as he served as the primary setup man for Felix Bautista and led the team with 18 holds.
While Soto’s 0–2 record and 3.96 ERA don’t jump off the page, his underlying stuff remained impressive, highlighted by a 10.90 K/9 rate. He was less effective out of the Mets’ crowded bullpen in a new role.
Mattson, much like Santana, enjoyed a true breakout in 2025. In 47.2 innings, he posted a stellar 2.45 ERA, along with a 175 ERA+ that ranked among the league’s best for relievers. He leaned heavily on his fastball up in the zone, similar to Bednar’s approach, while tying Santana for the team lead in holds with 12.
Mattson’s path to the majors has been anything but conventional. An Erie-area native, he pitched collegiately at Pitt before being drafted by the Angels in 2017. He bounced around the minors in the Angels and Orioles systems before briefly debuting with Baltimore in 2021.
Personal tragedy nearly ended his career, leading him to step away from the game before resurfacing in independent ball with the Washington Wild Things and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The Pirates signed him as a minor-league free agent, and he has rewarded that faith handsomely.
While Soto brings veteran reliability and swing-and-miss stuff, Mattson appears poised for a bigger role. His trajectory echoes that of a Pirates fan favorite, Jason Grilli. Grilli came up as a highly touted prospect who struggled to meet lofty expectations, and it wasn’t until he arrived in Pittsburgh that he truly thrived in the majors. In 2012, he handled eighth-inning duties for closer Joel Hanrahan, posting strong numbers amid the team’s disappointing collapse.
The Pirates traded Hanrahan that offseason, and Grilli stepped into the closer role. His dominance out of the “Shark Tank” in 2013 helped end the franchise’s two-decade playoff drought in one of the most memorable seasons in recent team history. Grilli even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated that July.
Soto’s peak years may be behind him, but Mattson is entering his prime at age 30. There’s real upside here. Who’s to say he won’t continue improving, or even challenge for the closer role? Santana has proven capable, though he could become a trade candidate later in the year.
Other intriguing arms exist, though most remain unproven. Mason Montgomery, acquired in the Brandon Lowe trade, is a left-hander who can touch triple digits. Carmen Mlodzinski has shown to be more effective in relief. Hunter Barco and Thomas Harrington could also see work out of the bullpen, much like Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler did in 2025. This unit has the potential to become a genuine strength rather than a question mark in 2026.
