Back when the prevailing theory on Lost was that the whole show was a purgatory, and the people who survived the crash were being tested to see if they counted for either pole of the afterlife, the one piece of evidence people pointed to was that whenever a character would have a moment of realization, arc-ending clarity or anything like it, that character would immediately be killed off. There are many examples, especially in the first three or four seasons. This theory did bank on the show having any intention of really valuing its own explanation, but it was popular for a while.
I bring this up because the Pittsburgh Pirates, of late, have occupied similar logic. A free agent will sign there as a flyer, seeing if there's anything there to do, will immediately have a tremendous season and then by the trade deadline won't have to play for the Pirates anymore, and will go on to great career heights afterwards. There have been a ton of guys to fall into this category since 2019ish. Tyler Anderson, Jose Quintana, Martin Perez, Carlos Santana, Chris Stratton, Dan Vogelbach [didn't go too well for him once he left though]. The majority of them found great success after this- Anderson heading up the Anaheim rotations, Santana as a gold glover with Minnesota, Perez with a scorching run with the Padres and White Sox, Quintana with a ton of great seasons and a current monster run in Milwaukee.
Andrew Heaney does look like the latest iteration of this. He was signed after a weaker but still durable year with Texas, he's been around for 10 years and has always been a great low-rotation option, he made a rotation around younger options like Paul Skenes, James Jones, Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter. He wasn't expected to be the ace, he was just expected to fill innings. So far, however, Heaney has been excellent for Pittsburgh, as through 5 starts he's 2-1 with a 1.72 ERA, 31 Ks and a 1.3 WAR. Strong, respectable stuff...even with Paul Skenes right there. That's the twist, even with Skenes striking out 39, and having a 2.39 ERA, he's still got a lower WAR than Andrew Heaney. He's given up more earned runs, it's that simple.
Now, Heaney, if he keeps it up, could be a solid trade deadline pickup for anyone who wants him, as this whole thing seems to go. There's the slightest chance the Pirates could actually compete this year, but...I mean, not on Bob Nutting's watch. And thus, Heaney will continue the cycle.
I do find it funny that there's another guy on this team that would be a fine pick for this phenomena as well, signed for one year and expected to last til at least the deadline...but it's for the opposite reason. Tommy Pham has been excellent down the stretch, and towards June, the last few years, and this year in Pittsburgh he has absolutely stunk. Hitting .193, with 6 RBIs, through 25 games, then causing all sorts of ruckuses like going to get Uber Eats outside the stadium in warmup dress and allegedly talking back to fans. He's gonna end up off this team at this rate, just not in the dignified way. Who knows, maybe he just wants to get out of Pittsburgh. I don't even think he wanted to get out of Chicago this badly last year, and that says something.
I do hope the Pirates eventually figure out how not to be this purgatory point for one year deals. That may take a change in ownership, and who knows when or if that'll happen, but...that could definitely do the trick.
Coming Tonight: I give Houston a lot of shit, but damn if they can't still produce great young players, even now.
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