The Pirates made another bullpen move before Monday’s trade deadline, acquiring right-handed reliever Lake Bachar from the Marlins as Ben Cherington continued to reshape the relief corps for a late push.
The timing matters. Pittsburgh entered the deal at 58-55 and 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card position, so every addition carries extra weight. The Pirates’ bullpen had ranked 22nd in ERA, which made relief help one of the clearest areas to address before the deadline.
Bachar gives the Pirates a veteran option who had been used often in Miami. He posted a 3.84 ERA in 38 appearances this season, working 58 2/3 innings with a 25.2% strikeout rate, an 8.7% walk rate and a 38.6% ground-ball rate. That is a useful profile for a club looking for innings and stability rather than a one-inning novelty piece.
Why Bachar fits the Pirates' deadline push
The Pirates did not stop with this trade. Bachar was one of multiple bullpen additions around the deadline, a sign that the front office saw relief depth as a priority rather than a one-move fix. For a team trying to climb in the standings, that approach makes sense. Late-season games tend to tighten up, and bullpen usage can become a separator.
There is also some broader roster context here. The Pirates have been willing to take chances on pitchers with different development paths, and Bachar fits that mold. He was drafted by the Padres in the fifth round in 2016, later designated for assignment in September 2024, and then claimed by the Marlins after that move. Since then, he settled into a regular bullpen role.
The Marlins were also in the playoff race when the trade happened, which adds a bit of intrigue, but the immediate story is simpler: the Pirates needed more bullpen help and found a reliever with recent major league work. What the club gave up in the deal was not provided, but the fit is clear enough. Pittsburgh wanted another arm it could trust right away.
That is the part that stands out most in a deadline race. The Pirates are not just trying to add talent. They are trying to add usable innings, and Bachar gives them another option as the final stretch of the season begins.
