For most of the 2026 season, the bullpen has been the biggest issue for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and veteran Dennis Santana is a big reason for that. Santana has been widely inconsistent this season and has blown too many saves where he just cannot be trusted anymore.
The Pirates have tried putting Santana in multiple roles, closer, high-leverage and low-leverage, but the results aren’t what they should be and it’s cost the team a number of games.
Nothing has worked and it has come to a point where it seems like the best option is move on from him and acquire another closer at the trade deadline.
Santana has posted a 2-5 record in 44 appearances and a 6.05 ERA over 41.2 innings pitched, with 37 strikeouts to 21 walks, a .249 batting average allowed and a 1.51 WHIP.
This is a drastic change from 2025, when Santana put up a 4-5 record in 70 appearances, a 2.18 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched, 60 strikeouts to 17 walks, a .179 BAA and a 0.87 WHIP, making him one of the best relief pitchers in baseball.
Santana was supposed to be one of the leaders of the bullpen before the season started, but that has not been the case. The 30-year-old has two blown saves this season and has already allowed 8 home runs this season which is a career high for him.
Now Santana has not been the only pitcher struggling this season from the bullpen, but the fact that he came off a string 2024 and 2025 and is pitching like this is concerning. He is losing velocity on his pitches and stats are proving that.
The Pirates have a Dennis Santana problem, and if they don’t fix or add another reliever at the trade deadline they will have a long second half of the season.
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