According to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic, the Pittsburgh Pirates have interest in free agent right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson. Biertempfel notes that the two sides have recently had talks. Both Jon Heyman (LINK) and Robert Murray (Around the 23:00 mark) have confirmed the rumors of interest between the two sides.
Per source, Pirates have "genuine interest" in free-agent RHP Kyle Gibson and the two sides recently talked via a video call.
Last season, Gibson was second on the Phillies’ staff with 31 starts and went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) November 28, 2022
The 35-year-old Gibson has ten seasons of big league experience, playing with the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and most recently, the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a 5.05 ERA in 167.2 innings over 31 starts this season, with a 4.28 FIP, a 1.34 WHIP and a 144:48 SO/BB ratio. He tied a career high with 24 home runs allowed this year. The Phillies went to the World Series and Gibson moved to the bullpen, where he saw action in two games, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings.
Gibson was an All-Star for the only time in 2021, while tying his career high with 3.5 WAR. The season had a drastic split, as he had a 2.87 ERA in 19 starts with the Rangers, then posted a 5.09 ERA in 69 innings with the Phillies after being acquired as part of a six-player trade.
Gibson has pitched a little better over the life of his career, posting a 4.52 ERA in 1,504 innings, with a 4.29 FIP, a 1.38 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He has made at least 25 starts in every full season in the majors.
The Pirates have noted that they would like to add to their starting rotation this off-season and this would give them a solid reliable starter, who will take the ball every five days.
