Backed by National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh’s starting rotation is expected to be a strength again in 2026.
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Manager Don Kelly will bring in former All-Star right-hander AJ Burnett to help the staff prepare for the new season, as the 49-year-old is expected to be in spring training Sunday through Wednesday or Thursday, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“While in camp, he will watch practices and be able to mentor a young Pirates team, sharing his experience,” Beazley wrote Saturday. “The most interesting part was how it came about. Burnett, now 49, was invited to camp by manager Don Kelly, potentially a sign of how Kelly intends to run spring training and connect the current Pirates with the older generation.”
Burnett spent three of his last four major league seasons with the Pirates in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
The one-time World Series champion helped lead Pittsburgh to the postseason in 2013 and 2015, the last time the Pirates made the playoffs.
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Burnett earned the only All-Star honor of his career in 2015 with Pittsburgh, going 9-7 with a 3.18 ERA and a career-best 1.36 WHIP while recording 143 strikeouts in 164 innings pitched in 26 starts.
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