Another Reason Why 2026 Will Be Pivotal Year For Pirates

This season is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They’ve already had their best offseason in years, raising hopes and expectations that they’ll be able to compete for a playoff spot in 2026.

The Pirates are aiming for their first postseason berth since 2015 and first winning season since 2018, so there’s a lot riding on this year, especially with Paul Skenes coming off his first career Cy Young award and top prospect Konnor Griffin poised for his MLB debut.

Pittsburgh is also fighting to keep its franchise record above .500. The Pirates went 71–91, finishing last in the NL Central. That dropped their all-time record to 10,910-10,910.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have played 21,820 games in their 144-season history.

They have won 10,910 games.

They have lost 10,910 games.

— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) January 1, 2026

It’s been a long time since Pittsburgh ended a season with its franchise record below .500, but the team has been trending in that direction for decades. The Pirates are coming off seven straight losing seasons and have had a losing record in 29 of their last 33 seasons, struggling to build a sustainable winner since Barry Bonds left after the 1992 campaign.

Pittsburgh is hoping to reverse that trend in 2026, counting on new players like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn to provide a boost while also banking on returning stars like Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds to bounce back. Griffin could have a major impact as well if he lives up to the hype.

The Pirates still have time to keep adding to their roster, too, as the offseason isn’t over yet. But for now, they already appear poised for their best season in years.

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