Pittsburgh is aggressively pursuing Valdez, the top starting pitcher left in free agency, according to a report Wednesday by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Signing the left-hander would strengthen the club’s impressive starting staff and reunite Valdez with Bill Murphy, who was named the Pirates’ pitching coach in October after a decade in the Astros’ organization as a Minor and Major League coach.
The Pirates are among several suitors for the two-time All-Star. The Orioles have been linked to him throughout the offseason, and the Blue Jays are involved as well, as reported by MLB Network insiders Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh may not be done adding to its lineup either; Rosenthal reports that the Bucs are targeting free-agent designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who is one year removed from a 39-homer campaign with the Braves.
