One MLB pitcher is pulling a Neftali Feliz and going from the Texas Rangers to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Robert Murray of FanSided reported on Thursday that left-hander Andrew Heaney has agreed to a deal with the Pirates. Alden Gonzalez of ESPN adds that Heaney is getting a one-year contract from Pittsburgh that is worth $5 million and has additional incentives as well.
The 33-year-old Heaney has pitched for the Miami Marlins, the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Rangers in his 11-year MLB career. He was also a member of the Rangers team that won the World Series in 2023.
Heaney is probably at a lower point of his value right now after going 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA for Texas in 2024. There also may be some concern about his move to a relatively hitter-friendly ballpark in Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
But Heaney has some merit as a guy who can give you around 30 starts per year and over 150 innings pitched. On top of that, he can miss bats (9.9 strikeouts per nine innings over the last three seasons combined) and doesn’t issue a ton of walks.
The Pirates, who went 76-86 last season, are largely set with right-handed pitchers in their rotation thanks to NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes leading the charge and the likes of Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and Johan Oviedo providing additional support. But the southpaw Heaney should also work well as a complementary piece to help play matchups and eat innings for Pittsburgh. He will now be reunited with a former Dodgers teammate on the Pirates too.
