After going 71-91 and missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season, it’s clear the Pittsburgh Pirates need to make some changes this winter, both on the field and in the dugout.
The Pirates kicked off their offseason by shaking up their coaching staff this week, firing pitching coach Oscar Marin and third base coach Mike Rabelo. Additionally, assistant pitching coach Brent Strom is retiring and will not have his contract renewed after one season with the team.
These moves are surprising given that Pittsburgh’s pitching staff was the team’s biggest strength this year, ranking seventh in MLB in ERA (3.76), third in FIP (3.83) and fourth in WHIP (1.22). The real issue was the offense, which ranked last in baseball in numerous categories, including runs per game (3.60) and OPS (.655).
Marin and Rabelo were two of the longest-tenured members of the Pirates’ coaching staff and had been with the team since the 2019-20 offseason. They were part of previous manager Derek Shelton’s coaching staff, however, so Pittsburgh is apparently looking to bring in some fresh blood to work with new manager Don Kelly, who was extended earlier this week.
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These are significant moves to kick off a critical offseason for Pittsburgh, which is trying to build its first winning team since 2018. While shaking up the coaching staff could help, the Pirates also need to add some bats and upgrade their roster if they want to contend for a postseason spot in 2026.
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