Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign where they finished last in the NL Central and 20 games below .500, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew they had work to do this winter if they wanted to contend next year.
Early in the offseason, the Pirates signaled a willingness to spend more and be more aggressive. So far, they’ve lived up to their words, putting together an impressive winter thus far with several shrewd moves.
After missing out on Kyle Schwarber, Pittsburgh pivoted. Ben Cherington acquired two former All-Stars in Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, giving his lineup a much-needed boost.
He also traded for Jhostynxon Garcia, one of the most exciting prospects in baseball with superstar potential.
The Pirates addressed other areas as well, acquiring Mason Montgomery and former All-Star reliever Gregory Soto to bolster their bullpen. They also added a speedy switch-hitter in Jake Mangum, improving their outfield depth.
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Over the last month, Pittsburgh has managed to significantly improve its Major League roster without sacrificing much in terms of talent or money. The Pirates had starting pitching to spare, so they moved Johan Oviedo and Mike Burrows in the Garcia and Lowe trades. They’ve also spent in free agency, adding Soto and inking O’Hearn to their first multi-year free agent deal in nine years.
There’s still time for Cherington to keep adding to the roster. Even if he doesn’t or only makes minor moves, Pittsburgh should be considerably better next year and may have enough talent to compete for a playoff spot.
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