According to Jayson Stark, the Pittsburgh Pirates have called about free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo. He didn’t pitch during the 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery. The 38-year-old(39 in February) had a 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 86 innings over 14 starts during the 2014 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It’s unknown at this time if the signing of Ryan Vogelsong would mean they no longer have interest in Arroyo, but it’s doubtful that the Pirates would go into the 2016 season without a decent option for a sixth starter. Right now that would be Wilfredo Boscan, as the rest of the Indianapolis rotation appears to be Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon, Chad Kuhl, Trevor Williams and/or Steven Brault, and none of them are ready for the majors. That would leave the Pirates without a decent sixth starter early in the season, so Arroyo could fit that role if he couldn’t win a starting role.
For now it appears there is a lot of interest in the free agent pitcher, so it’s something to keep an eye on. The Pirates will likely sign another starting pitcher for depth, whether it is Arroyo or someone similar. There is also still the chance they sign someone better who pushes Jeff Locke and Ryan Vogelsong into a battle for the fifth spot, instead of just picking up someone to compete with them.
At 39, & 17 months after Tommy John Surgery, Bronson Arroyo says he's now 'perfectly fine." Wash, Pit, Balt, SD, Atl, Cin & Phil have called
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 19, 2015