The Pittsburgh Pirates have strengthened their pitching staff by signing former Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Josh Fleming, to a major-league split contract. The deal, according to sources familiar with the agreement, would pay Fleming $850,000 if he makes it to the majors.

Fleming, aged 27, was reportedly courted by a few teams, but the Pirates showed strong interest in him. They believe that Fleming's abilities make him valuable not only for his potential long relief outings but also for occasional spot starts. The Pirates see potential upside in him after his four seasons with the Rays.

During his time in Tampa Bay, Fleming recorded a 4.88 ERA and an impressive 144/69 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His most recent performance included a 4.70 ERA in 51.2 innings with the Rays before being placed on waivers and eventually claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fleming's pitching style relies on a diverse repertoire of four pitches: a sinker, changeup, curveball, and four-seam fastball. As per Baseball Savant, he has proven to be versatile on the mound.

With the addition of Josh Fleming, the Pirates have now added a total of three pitchers to their roster this offseason, including Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez. Nevertheless, the team is not done yet and is expected to further bolster their pitching staff by exploring both the trade and free-agent markets, according to sources.

In addition to their pitching acquisitions, the Pirates are reportedly also finalizing the official one-year contract of Yasmani Grandal. The deal, valued at $2.5 million, includes $1 million in incentives.

The signing of Josh Fleming is seen as a positive move for the Pirates as they look to strengthen their team for the upcoming season. With more potential reinforcements on the horizon, the Pirates are determined to improve their chances of success and make their mark in the league.