The Pirates are going to the independent leagues to try to find extra pitching, signing Henderson Alvarez of the Milwaukee Milkmen.
Robert Murray was the first with the signing. The minor-league deal is pending on the 30-year-old passing a physical.
On Saturday afternoon, Ben Cherington said the Pirates were "focused externally on acquiring more pitching depth."
"We’re working on both fronts.," Cherington said, alluding to getting more stability from their internal pitching options as well. "Hopefully over the next few days, we’ll have some progress on both of those things – both getting guys into a better spot internally and also hopefully finding some ways to supplement that externally.