Andrew

Heaney

The deal, which was agreed to on Thursday, is now official. The 33-year-old southpaw will help to add stability and leadership to a young Pirates’ staff. He showed rare durability during the 2024 season, making 32 appearances (31 starts) for the Rangers where he registered a 4.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 159/41 K/BB ratio across 160 innings.

The deal is still pending a physical. The 33-year-old southpaw stayed healthy for the duration of the 2024 season and made 32 appearances (31 starts) for the Rangers, registering a 5-14 record, 4.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 159/41 K/BB ratio across 160 frames. He should have a spot in the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation and could be a viable late-round rotation option in deeper mixed leagues.

The Tigers made a surprising run to the postseason in 2024 on the back of AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and a surging young offense. However, the Tigers were also forced to use “bullpen games” often due to injuries and inconsistencies from the remainder of their rotation. While it would be unlikely for the Tigers to enter a bidding war for some of the top starting pitchers on the market, it seems like the team is interested in finding a lower-cost veteran starting pitcher to help round out their rotation.

Heaney needed to pitch four innings tonight to pick up a $1.5 million bonus, and the Rangers got him to the mark, even as he allowed seven runs over the first three innings. Compare that to the Pirates’ handling of Rowdy Tellez — over a $200,000 bonus! — and wonder why any free agent would ever take an offer from Pittsburgh over a similar deal from the Rangers. The Texas offense actually bailed Heaney out tonight, too, something that hardly ever happened in his previous 30 starts. He ends the year 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA.

Heaney allowed 11 hard-hit balls and generated a total of six missed swings in the 94-pitch outing, which suggests he could have easily had a worse line. Carrying an ERA a sliver under four at 3.98, he’s due to face the Angels in his final start.

The Rangers had won Heaney’s last four starts, but the offense never had a shot today. Heaney allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out three. He’ll probably face the Mariners again next Sunday, but since Texas is using a six-man rotation, he won’t be matched up against George Kirby again. Alas, that’ll be Bryan Woo instead doesn’t make a win much more likely.

It’s Heaney’s first win since July 21. He allowed one run over 15 innings in his previous three starts, all of which turned into Rangers victories. Still, he just hasn’t had any luck in that department this year, leaving him 5-13 in spite of a 3.84 ERA. He’s a fine play with his next start due to come in Seattle.

Heaney and Carlos Rodón were both outstanding Tuesday, but neither ends up getting a decision. Heaney gave up three hits with one walk, and was rarely in trouble while throwing 54-of-86 pitches for strikes. The 33-year-old has now allowed just one run over his last 10 innings, and his ERA has improved to a respectable 3.86 in the process.

Fantasy managers were likely expecting a significantly higher strikeout total against Chicago’s rebuilding lineup, especially since Heaney piled up eight strikeouts in each of his previous two outings, but the veteran southpaw managed just two punchouts over five frames. A run-scoring single by lefty-masher Corey Julks in the third inning represented the lone tally against him. The strikeout totals have been all over the map in recent outings, but he’s still missing bats at a high enough rate to offer some streaming appeal in deeper mixed leagues when he faces the Yankees on Monday in a home outing.

We knew the White Sox wanted to limit Crochet’s workload, but this is extreme. The 25-year-old southpaw threw just four pitches before the contest went into an unexpected rain delay as storm fired up in the Chicago area and stuck around long enough that the two sides got tired of sitting around. It’ll be resumed on Wednesday afternoon as a doubleheader. Crochet won’t factor into the pitching plans for Wednesday’s twin bill, but Andrew Heaney will take the ball for the Rangers in the front end followed by rookie Jack Leiter in the nightcap.