The Pittsburgh Pirates sent starting pitcher Bailey Falter to the Kansas City Royals during last year’s trade deadline. In return, the Bucs received left-handed reliever Evan Sisk and first base prospect Callan Moss for Falter. However, the Pirates may soon see Falter on a new team. The Royals’ rotation depth is packed, and with no options remaining, Falter may end up on waivers at the end of spring training.
Falter was originally a 2023 trade deadline pick-up by the Bucs. He established himself as a solid back-of-the-rotation arm in 2024 and continued that with the Pirates in 2025. Falter owned a 3.73 ERA, 4.91 FIP, and 1.182 WHIP over his first 113 1/3 innings of 2025. The left-hander walked 8.5% of opponents, with just a 15.3% strikeout rate. Falter was also prone to home runs, with a 1.35 HR/9 ratio.
Former Pirates Pitcher Bailey Falter Could Soon Get Waived
Falter Faltered with the Royals
While Falter was a huge regression candidate, given his 5.20 SIERA and 5.03 xFIP, the Royals likely didn’t predict he’d fall off the rails as quickly as he did. He allowed 15 earned runs in just 12 innings of work. Falter only struck out 11 batters and walked seven. He also got taken deep twice. Falter made two starts, then moved to the bullpen for two more outings when veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen returned from an injury of his own. Then, in late August, Falter was placed on the injured list with a left bicep contusion, ending his season.
No Room in the Rotation (Or in the Bullpen?)
As of right now, the Royals’ rotation is set. 2024 breakout star Cole Ragans leads the Royals’ rotation. He comes with a supporting cast of veterans Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, 2025 All-Star Kris Bubic, and standout rookie Noah Cameron. The Royals also have plenty of other depth rotation options besides Falter. Top 15 prospects Ben Kudrna and Luinder Avila are both on hand. The latter made his MLB debut in 2025 and was impressive in a small 14-inning sample size. The Royals also acquired Mitch Spence from the Athletics in February. The Royals also have fellow 2025 trade deadline pick-up, Stephen Kolek. He will open the year on the IL, but he has started to get work off the mound and should be back in action at some point early in the 2026 season.
According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, the Royals are open to moving Falter in a trade. The left-handed starter is controlled through the 2028 season and is owed $3.6 million this season. Another team may see him as a more valuable acquisition than signing one of the veteran starting pitchers still left on the free agent market. The other alternative for the Royals is to keep him in a sixth-starter/long-relief swingman role. That would mean keeping him on the roster over Avila, Spence, and Kudrna. However, the possibility of a DFA is also on the table.
Meanwhile, on the Pirates’ End…
The Pirates also do not have room for a Bailey Falter reunion if the Royals end up moving on from the lefty starter. Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler make up the team’s 1-4 starters. Carmen Mlodzinski has the inside track for the fifth rotation spot. If the Pirates want a left-handed starter, they still have top prospect Hunter Barco. On top of that, they have José Urquidy and Thomas Harrington. The Pirates also have their own set of talented top prospects. Both Wilber Dotel and Antwone Kelly are among their best minor leaguers. The Pirates added to the 40-man roster in the offseason.
The trade has worked out well for the Pirates thus far. Sisk was solid down the line for the Pirates and will likely reappear in the major leagues later this season. Moss caught fire at High-A Greensboro and put up a 184 wRC+ in 30 games. Meanwhile, Falter struggled badly after the trade, landed on the IL, and now may end up on a new team before the start of the 2026 season.
Main Photo Credit: © Denny Medley-Imagn Images
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source lastwordonsports.com ’
