Jeff Passan Reveals What Pirates Need To End Playoff Drought

The Pittsburgh Pirates suffered their 90th loss of the 2025 season on Thursday, dropping their series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1. It’s their most losses since 2022 despite getting a historic, Cy Young-caliber year from Paul Skenes in his first full season.

With the Pirates 21 games below .500 and seemingly stuck in their rebuild, it’s clear that they need to change course this offseason if they want to contend next year. Another winter of small moves and banking on internal improvement probably isn’t going to cut it, especially in an NL Central that’s only getting more competitive.

Led by Skenes, Pittsburgh has a great young pitching staff to build around. However, the club is still several players away from competing for a playoff spot, particularly on the offensive side.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan joined “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday to discuss the Pirates and what they need to do to reach the postseason for the first time since 2015.

“The Pittsburgh Pirates are three bats away from being a playoff team right now,” Passan said, suggesting that Pittsburgh needs to be aggressive in free agency. “And you’ve seen opportunities that have been taken by the Kansas City Royals and by other smaller-market, low-revenue teams to go and change their lineup in an offseason. The Pirates can do this.”

Pittsburgh must bolster its lineup this offseason after struggling at the plate this year, ranking last in MLB in scoring, home runs, slugging and OPS. Few of its top hitting prospects are expected to debut in 2026 (per MLB Pipeline), making short-term upgrades even more urgent.

The front office can always trade for hitting, too, by parting ways with some of their prospects or young pitchers. Ben Cherington has options and plenty of assets to make some moves.

The Pirates have already assembled a playoff-caliber pitching staff. Now they just need to find some run support.

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