The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to watch the 2025 MLB playoffs from home this season. Their season was full of ups and downs, and while the overall results were disappointing, there’s plenty to build on. The pitching staff was one of the best in baseball and is full of almost entirely players who are under contract for 2026. The farm system looks strong as well, with Konnor Griffin and Seth Hernandez showing serious promise.
Still, there are areas to improve. The Pirates’ offense was among the worst in all of baseball. They ranked last in home runs by a wide margin. They also struck out at a high rate and didn’t steal many bases. Going into the offseason, Pittsburgh’s focus should be on helping the offense catch up to the pitching staff. Here’s a look at three impending free agents the Pirates could be suitors for this winter.
Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers
After a promising start to his career with the New York Yankees, Torres was a steady, yet unspectacular contributor for several years before signing a one-year deal with the Tigers this past winter. In 145 games for the Tigers, he slashed /.256/.358/.387, good for a 113 wRC+. His power has declined somewhat from the start of his career, but he still managed to hit 16 home runs playing half of his games in the pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. On top of that, Torres doesn’t expand the zone at the plate, leading to low strikeout and high walk rates. His defense at second base is suspect, but his offensive profile is different than what the Pirates currently possess.
Austin Slater and Rob Refsnyder, OF
On the other side of the American League bracket, the Boston Red Sox travel to New York to face the Yankees. Each team has interesting lineup decisions to make, with lefties scheduled to start the first game of the series. The Pirates were one of the worst teams in baseball against left-handed pitching, and having a platoon bat in the outfield could go a long way for them.
The Red Sox use Rob Refsnyder in that role. The outfielder has made a career out of hitting left-handed pitching. In 57 games against lefties this year, Refsnyder hit .302 with seven home runs. His OPS against southpaws was an absurd .959. Refsnyder toyed with retirement after the 2024 season, so it remains to be seen if he’d be interested in joining the Pirates, or any organization other than the Red Sox, for that matter. The Yankees use Austin Slater in the same role, though his numbers aren’t as eye-popping. He posted a .757 OPS in 50 games against southpaws, though his career mark is closer to .800. A right-handed bat to counter opponents’ lefties would be a shrewd addition by Pittsburgh, and two will be on display on Tuesday.
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Miguel Rojas, Middle Infield, Los Angeles Dodgers
Konnor Griffin is going to push to make the major league roster in 2026. Until then, the middle infield isn’t sorted. Jared Triolo performed well down the stretch, but he could play in a number of positions. If the Pirates want a stopgap infielder until Griffin is ready, the Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas is an option. Rojas isn’t a premium bat — he hit .262 with seven home runs in 2025 — but he is a premium defender. He played all four infield positions this year and held his own at each of them, though he spent the majority of his innings at second base. His veteran leadership experience is an asset as well.
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