Former GM Reveals What Sparked Pirates’ Aggressive Offseason

It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been more aggressive this offseason compared to previous winters.

Coming off another last-place finish, seven straight losing seasons and 10 consecutive seasons without a playoff berth, the Pirates have made several bold moves this winter in an effort to contend in 2026. They’ve dramatically improved their lineup, which ranked last in scoring last year, by adding multiple All-Star hitters through trades and free agency.

What caused Pittsburgh to change course this offseason? Former GM Jim Bowden shared some theories on an episode of “Foul Territory” earlier this week.

“The fans have wanted it. The clamoring was heard…Ben Cherington’s voice was heard,” Bowden said. “Remember, Ben Cherington won a world championship when he was the GM of the Boston Red Sox. Spent a lot of money there. He knows what it takes to win a championship.”

It hasn’t been a perfect winter for Pittsburgh, which could still use another bat after missing out on Kyle Schwarber and Kazuma Okamoto. However, the Pirates are a much better team now than they were at the start of the offseason. They now have some firepower to go with their stellar pitching staff, which ranked among the best in baseball last year.

“I do think the clamoring and the noise, and the baseball argument that our starting pitching is that good if we can score runs, I think that’s resonating,” Bowden continued. “And I think the Pirates are tired of all the hatred from fans. They’re tired of fans not coming to the ballpark when Paul Skenes isn’t pitching. So they’ve had a fun offseason, and I think we should be celebrating it.”

It’s been a great winter for Pittsburgh, and it’s not over yet. Hopefully it translates on the field in the spring.

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