Pirates not interested in Lohse?

The Pirates are not interested in free agent starting pitcher Kyle Lohse, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

The team signed pitcher Francisco Liriano earlier this offseason, but has been mostly quiet since suffering another losing season in 2012.

Lohse was expecting a big payday, but has yet to receive a multi-year contract from a team. With Spring Training having started, Lohse might be forced to sign a "pillow contract," which would mean that he would sign a 1-year deal with a club.

The issue with Lohse signing a pillow contract is that the team that signs him will forfeit a first-round draft choice, which many teams are reluctant to do under the new system. The Pirates certainly are not a fit as they are a team rebuilding and accumulating young talent to form a new core.

Lohse declined a qualifying offer from the Cardinals at the beginning of the offseason, but the team is reportedly not interested in bringing the right-handed pitcher back despite the mounting injuries they have seen to their starting pitching.

Lohse would be a good fit for any team looking for roughly a league average starter who can eat innings. It remains to be seen who that team will be.