The Pirates were 54-52 on August 3 before a ten-game losing streak tanked their hopes of contention, and the Bucs ultimately finished with the same 76-86 record as they had in 2023. Amidst some larger questions about how well the rebuild is progressing, there will be a clear focus on upgrading the lineup this winter.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Bryan Reynolds, OF: $88MM through 2030 (includes $2M buyout of $20MM club option for 2031)
- Mitch Keller, SP: $69.5MM through 2028
- Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B: $43MM through 2029 (includes $6MM buyout of $12MM club option for 2030)
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa, IF: $7.5MM through 2025 (Blue Jays covering roughly $1.22MM as per the terms of their July 2024 trade)
2025 financial commitments: $41.5MM
Total future commitments: $208MM
Option Decisions
- Marco Gonzales, SP: $15MM club option, no buyout
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Dennis Santana (4.126): $1.8MM
- David Bednar (4.076): $6.6MM
- Ben Heller (3.165): $1MM
- Connor Joe (3.136): $3.2MM
- Johan Oviedo (3.079): $1.5MM
- Bryan De La Cruz (3.056): $4MM
- Joey Bart (3.020): $1.8MM
- Colin Holderman (2.144): $1.4MM
- Bailey Falter (2.138): $2.8MM
- Non-tender candidates: Joe, De La Cruz, Heller
Free Agents
Paul Skenes lived up to the hype, wowing the baseball world with a 1.99 ERA over 133 innings and looking all the world like a franchise player. Though he was somewhat overshadowed by Skenes and spent almost eight weeks on the injured list due to a lat strain, Jared Jones also had an impressive rookie season. Behind these two star rookies, Mitch Keller was his usual solid self, Bailey Falter pitched well in his first full season as a Pirate, and Luis Ortiz had a lot of success after moving from the bullpen back into the rotation at midseason.
Since Marco Gonzales' club option won't be exercised, this group stands as the Pirates' provisional starting five heading into Spring Training. However, Johan Oviedo will also be healthy after missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Down on the farm, top-100 prospects Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, and Braxton Ashcraft are all knocking on the door for their MLB debuts, and other pitching prospects like Mike Burrows (who did toss his first 3 1/3 big league innings in 2024), Hunter Barco, and Anthony Solometo aren't far behind.
In short, Pittsburgh might soon become Pitch-burgh, with all of these young, controllable, and (except for Keller) inexpensive arms either in the majors or coming up the pipeline. Developing this much promising starting pitching is no small thing, and with Skenes leading the way, general manager Ben Cherington can certainly point to the Pirates' rotation as the key to the team's rebuilding efforts.
However, this rebuild has now resulted in six straight losing seasons, with the last five coming under Cherington's watch. While nobody expected Rome to be built in a day, the last two years have shown just enough promise to leave Pittsburgh fans disappointed when things fizzled out, and left wondering when exactly the Bucs will be turning the corner towards real contention.
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Pirates biggest need i think is a lefty hitting center fielder. A deal involving Jarren Duran and Bubba Chandler could make sense for both teams. The Red Sox have too many lefty hitters and could use high upside pitching.
Duran isn’t getting traded. He’s a top ten player in baseball.
He had 1 really good year and let’s not forget he made some stupid public comments. Roman Anthony is a top 10 overall prospect.
Who cares about the “comments”? Get over it.
I don’t really care but it’s something to consider. But like I said Anthony is a top prospect the number 3 overall according to MLB.com and the Red Sox have too many lefty hitters. So feel free to focus on that.
Not even close. It was one great year, but he’s made significant progress every year. And he has 5 years left.
He has 4 years left and he’s a super 2 so he will get expensive.
Hey if you believe he can repeat 2024 you don’t trade him. I have my doubts he can do that.
Are you forgetting about Cruz?
Yes he is a lefty hitter. Most teams like to have 4 or 5 of them. The Pirates don’t have that.
Totally agree, especially at PNC. But you did say Center Fielder and Cruz is going to be there a while.
Cruz played 23 games there. You don’t put a guy who has injury issues in center the Pirates will figure that out eventually.
The first thing they need to do is trade the overrated Skenes to my Mariners for future considerations. .
why do you want him so badly if he’s overrated?
TheMan, I was trying to make a joke. I’ll stick to my day job for now.
Seriously, Skenes is possibly the second coming of Nolan Ryan with some Roger Clemons thrown in. It’s going to be fun following his career. That said, we’d take him for a player to be named later (Sam Haggerty) and future considerations.
But what if Mark was a Cubs fan? Shouldn’t you be crying behind a dumpster because a potential
Cubs fan wrote an article?
Shouldn’t you be playing world of war craft and eating a hot pocket fartpocket?
You do you fella
They don’t have too many left hitters and no reason to trade Duran unless someone wants to overpay his worth which is high.
The Red Sox absolutely positively have too many lefty hitters. Chandler is a top 15 overall prospect. And the Pirates could add to the deal i just think thats a good starting point.
Name them all. I only see 2
Devers
Yoshida
Abreu
Valdez
Hamilton
McGuire
Duran
Casas
Teel, Mayer and Anthony are all left handed as well and all projected to be ready in 2025.
They have to do something.
Ahh yes, Reese McGuire the guy that’s not on their team. Or is that propaganda from Cubs fans
How bout this, When have the pirates ever made a trade like that ? You singled out one player you want that’s going to cost a fortune in prospect value before free agency has even began. There’s several LH hitters available for free agent dollars. Go spend those first
Valdez & McGuire don’t qualify as lefties if they aren’t on the team. Having three top-tier prospects that are lefties is a problem, but you don’t resolve that by trading one of the top 2024 players in BB.
With Teal coming that kinda cancels out McGuire. Yes he’s no longer on the team ky point is still valid.
The Red Sox have roster construction problems they have too many lefty hitters. It’s a lot more than just the 3 prospects.
This someone in Boston front office? You think all those guys are good and they have too many of them and are all set no need to do better? Alright but I’m not impressed. If I was Boston I see 2 guys and room to improve everywhere else. Sure is hard to have all or mostly good players so you no choice and have to settle for above average average or even close to average. But to trade your best one for a pitching prospect? They aren’t that loaded.
Current everyday left handed hitters
Devers
Yoshida
Abreu
Durran
Casas
Top prospects projected to be ready by 2025
Teel
Mayer
Anthony
That’s too many. That’s 8 everyday players who hit left handed. That’s too many. If you can’t see that open your eyes.
Top prospects aren’t a guarantee they will hit major league pitching
Cherington has said he will only make trades for major league ready players
It’s true that there is a possibility Duran is moved over the winter, *but* if we do see it happen, it will involve a legit, front of the rotation type SP with several years worth of control coming back, even if more than Duran goes the other way.
We won’t see him moved for prospects, even much ballyhooed ones like Ashcroft and Chandler. 5 tool players, who have 4y of control left and just put up his numbers just don’t get moved for an unproven prospect.. Now Abreu and a little more? Perhaps, but no chance Duran.
Chandler is a legit front of the rotation starter. One of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. Look him up.
Keyword is prospect and yes.. I watched a Milbtv game he pitched vs the Woo-Sox, which *think* was his 1st AAA game. Yes, he does look like a promising, top of the rotation young kid, but he’s still that.. A *promising* prospect and Duran was a near 9 WAR player last season, in the running for a GG, led the league in 2b, 3b, had 83XBH, stole 34 bases.. It’s incomprehensible to trade Duran, at 28yo for a prospect and u watch.. it won’t get done unless a front end SP with multi years control returns.
Chandler is the 2nd best pitching prospects in all of baseball. And LIKE I SAID the Pirates can add to the deal.
Who has a top of the rotation starter available with multiple years of control left?
For starters.. There is the Mariners, who actually have a pair of them. Yes, they have been saying for awhile none are available, but who knows with that near non existent offense and superb starting pitching.
Add to Chandler or not BP. Trading a current impact player for a prospect who has 4y of club control? I’m at a loss for the last time that was done, especially a near 9WAR player.
This isn’t Mookie Betts about to walk via FA. It would require the type of SP from the Pirates they certainly are not willing to move and you know who I mean by that.
Kirby for Durran is probably fair. I think if the Mariners needed a centerfielder that could make sense but they really don’t.
Durran is a bit of a late bloomer. He also has some PR issues. And most importantly the Red Sox are loaded with lefty hitters. Perhaps they trade Abreu and not Durran.
Jared Jones could be had too I imagine but his reputation is a bit greater than his results. Obviously Skenes goes nowhere.
I thought the same thing. We have no shot at Skenes, and no one else is good enough.
But for BP, how about Roman Anthony for Chandler +?
Yeah a deal involving Anthony and Chandler could make sense. The Pirates need a guy like Anthony bad.
I don’t think Jones can be had as you put it. Cherington likes the current trio of Keller, Skenes and Jones
Joe- That would be a very dangerous and gutsy trade for both sides and imagine the fan bases of BOTH sides would hit the roof should it be made in some form.
I got to tell you, that game saw Chandler in vs the woo-sox sticks in my head, he came out like a house of fire in the begining. probably should have made an effort to catch more of his milb starts, but was only 1 did last season.
Anthony, “should” he get moved as you suggested could (to me) start the season for a Pittsburgh, where there isn’t the constant media and fan pressure and believe he will be a really good player, but then only time will tell.
Chandler not going anywhere!
Might be able to target someone like Wallner to get a lefty OF, and I’m sure the Twins would love a young SP in return. Could be a good fit.
correction, their biggest need is overhauling their entire front office and field manager positions because nothing will change until all are gone
Hey they just upgraded their analytics dept. from a Commodore 64 to Commodore 128. Baby Steps man, Baby Steps.
That need won’t be addressed until a year from now at earliest.
This. Pirates have a win 80 games business model. Step it up! The central is theirs for the taking starting next season and for the foreseeable future. So something about it !
With Bob holding the debit card pin number there’s only so much any FO can do
while you make a valid point, Great, player development up until now has been a major disappointment and that falls under the direction of Cherington and I am talking position players not pitchers
Your right again. GWA.
The Pirates biggest need is an owner who is committed to building a winning organization, not one who is content with mediocrity and revenue sharing
since changing ownership isn’t likely to happen, getting rid of those worthless management jobs is a move that could turn this franchise around
This will be year number 6 of the current General Manager and Field Manager and they’ve never been a .500 team
You can bring in superstar talent and this system would still find a way to ruin the potential for a winning season
It could but likely it wont make a huge difference since Bob won’t do what necessary to field a perennial winner, or at least a competitive one. Players know that Bob won’t agree to sign FAs looking for more than one or two years
Players knowing that they will not get a multi-year in Pittsburgh is a huge factor.
You are more right than GWA.
Have written a lot about them. Disappointed in the rebuild- both the players and the development of them.
Pitchers are OK. The team strength. But not really strong enough to seriously compete. But it’s the position players that have me scratching my head.
It’s easier to find and develop position players rather than pitchers. Their position players are a mish mosh. Defense is not strong up the middle. Hitting is not especially good. But what sticks out to me is speed…..the only guy that has it is Cruz, but he’s not a very good baserunner. Maybe Nick Gonzales can run some. The Pirates come off as a station to station team, which doesn’t help when they don’t hit much and play home games in a big park:
23’rd in BA
26’th in OBP
27’th in SLG
27’th n OPS
I don’t think stats take into account the intangibles, such as how speed changes a game not only on the field, but how opposing managers have to adjust for it. But the Pirates intangibles / Baseball IQ is at least as bad as their stats.
With the young Brewers, Francona going to the Reds, and John Mozeliak being phased out of St. Louis, the Pirates will be fighting to stay out of last place for years to come.
The Pirates collection of arms in both the majors and minors would be highly sought after if you were ranking which group of arms you’d want to have starting a team with. Maybe even the highest ranked considering most are dirt cheap allowing resources to be spent elsewhere.
Hopefully the organization can make some savvy moves to not squander that collection of high-end arms. Cruz turning into a 30-40 hr beast in CF would no doubt help too.
Great division for them to be in at this time especially with Cards not doing as well as they typically do. None of those teams look like powerhouses at this time.
So no, I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom in Pittsburgh.
Like “Great division for them to be in at this time…”
Look, I agree with your assessment of the offense but the young pitching staff has a chance to be elite. Gotta trade some arms for some lumber
The pirates will never win a World Series in our lifetime. You can have a kid born tonight and it will never see them in it. That kids kid won’t either. Pretty much the worst run and worst overall team ever.
Are threatening to kill all kids born tonight and after, if the pirates make it to game 7 of the World Series in the next 40 years? Like some evil Santa.
Actually the whole world. That’s quite a threat. Maybe someone should report your comment
Fart, you need to re-read the post and post an apologetic reply.
Just re-read it. It is still an ominous threat to guarantee people won’t see the pirates win the World Series. Basically, Terry is saying we, along with our children and grandchildren will never see the pirates win the World Series. Terry will make sure of it, by hurting us.
Clear as day.
Terry-On any given year on average they have a 1 in 264 chance to win the WS based on one small market team winning in the last 33 seasons.
However,there have been several teams over the last half decade even worse that the current less than mediocre Pirates.
Ever is a very long time.
Worst run? Probably not. Look at Seattle. They’ve never even been to the World Series.
But yeah, other than the Royals 10 years ago all of the teams in the World Series are super wealthy. We’ll probably never see the Bucs in the finals.
Pitchburg…
Let’s hope it works out better than it did awhile back when they had Cole, Taillon, and Glasnow anchoring the staff.
I’m afraid Nutting & Cherington are going to waste the best Pitcher this organization will ever have by being cheap and risk adverse.
Pitchburg?
Narratives are to make something appear to be what it’s not.
Yes, pitching is the best part of the Pirates team right now. But in 2024 they finished 20th in MLB team ERA. Playing home games in a pitchers park.
Paul Skenes has been unbelievable. Mitch Keller would be a #1 on many MLB teams. But beyond that the starters are so-so at best, and the bullpen wasn’t consistent. Sure, lots of young guys are there and some will get better over the next few years. But some will also get worse or injured.
You gonna do a rebuild, do what the O’s did – have an excess of young position players and pitchers to work with, because no matter how good they look at first, a number are going to wash out as the league adjusts to them….and which ones can’t be forecast. It has to be played out (which is why Mark Elias isn’t trading his “excess” prospects.).
The Orioles traded two very good prospects last year for a subpar pitcher. It really cost them. What model do you want them to replicate from the Orioles. Intentionally losing for the better part of five years?
metsin4;
LOL
I got it.
Look – Long ago Al Campanis ran the Dodgers farm system. They were known for developing players. Their farm system was an embarrassment of riches. Teams fought over trading for their prospects. The Dodgers kept their best ones, then traded the lower-level ones to get a missing piece – which is how Dusty Baker (among others) wound up a Dodger. Campanis never traded their top-tier guys.
Again – MLB is not rotisserie league….
The trade you’re referring to hardly “cost them”. Elias traded a 2B/3B when he has 4 guys at the ML level (if we count Mateo) to cover those spots: Westburg, Holliday, Urias and Mateo. Then he has 2 more in the minor league pipeline: Mayo and O’Ferrall. He has 4 OF’s in the high minors that are better prospects (in his FO’s evaluation) as the one he gave up. As well as 2 more youngsters at the ML level that got some playing time this year.
Where were those 2 guys going to get playing time on that team? They did what I wrote above – had more quality prospects than positions, so if some failed they’d have backup. But a team can only have so many backup’s. And I believe Elias hopes that both of those players do well for the Marlins, which will help him in future trades.
As for the “subpar” pitcher. You don’t know that. They have him under control for 2 more years for a reasonable salary. The man is only 26 years-old and has had ML success. He needs to be reworked, and if you haven’t noticed, that’s how the O’s get their pitchers – they seldom draft any, they get them from other teams and rework them. They finished middle of the pack in ERA last year (14th) and that’s with their closer out all year and 3 of their starters missing major chunks of the year with injuries.
–
“What model do you want them to replicate from the Orioles. Intentionally losing for the better part of five years?”
1. They were hardly intentionally losing. They were building a organization as well as a top-tier farm system. They started with literally nothing: Few quality prospects, scouts, international connections, computers, software, coaches, etc.
2. The Pirates have been in 4th or 5th place in the 5 team NL Central since 2017. How many years is that?
Mike Elias was hired by the O’s after the 2018 season.
Ben Cherington was hired by the Pirates a year later.
Look at their 2 ML teams and farm systems.
That trade did cost them big time. Conner Norby is ready for MLB baseball. Holliday and Mayo are no were close to being ready right now. Trevor Rogers wasn’t brought in for future years. He was brought in to win last year and the Orioles realized he was horrible within 4 games.
If you don’t think the Orioles intentionally tanked then you’re a fool. The organization has no ability to build or get better besides being the worst team in the league and getting tons of more draft picks than everyone else. Once they are decent they make horrible moves.
You do realize your farm system is depleted now. Besides Basallo, who is vastly overrated, the farm has nothing. And the Mets just poached your scout that got most of your good players. You’re about to lose 2/3 best players on the team. The Redsox are about to be inundated with very good young talent. Your window might have already passed and you want a team to replicate that. I will take Skenes and their pitching odds of winning a World Series before the Orioles.
Metsin4; Willems over Basallo for me. Low to the ground. Think Molina brothers. Tired of the 6’4″ types crouching down behind the plate trying to frame pitches here in Baltimore.
In regards to Rogers trade; could not have been Elias’s prefered acquisition there. Attempts acquiring others fell thru and there was Rogers still out there. A gamble obliviously. Per Samuel, maybe have some patience there. But honestly, I dunno man. We will see.
As for the “subpar” pitcher. You don’t know that. They have him under control for 2 more years for a reasonable salary.
=====================
I always wanted the RS to trade for Rogers, but at this point, and pitching as badly as he has, two years is not a long time.
And I am also not a fan of Stowers or Norby But even if the O’s have other prospects, I think they still could’ve swung a better trade.
Samuel-Any Pirates fan knows that jettisoning Shelton would get them at least 6 more wins.
If some of Cherington’s changes work out that could give them a few more
Nutting should be ashamed of himself for not being baseball savvy enough to know that he needed a new manager two years ago.
With a few additions and luck they could have a decent team next year but not with Shelton as manager.
as an example of how bad Shelton was as manager this past season, after Bednar had shown he wasn’t the elite closer following blown saves and eventual losses ( he had 9)
Shelton continued using him in that role
9 wins would have given the total wins at 84
They need offense and a more consistent bullpen. Too many singles hitters with high strikeout rates can’t get a consistent offense that way
Dude the Orioles had multiple seasons of being the worst team, by far, in MLB. They literally tanked to get the highest pick in the draft. Now we have a draft lottery so even losing 120 games doesn’t guarantee the #1 pick.
And the O’s pitching is seriously lacking. They would looooooooove to have some of our young talent.
PS, you can’t judge a team by their ERA these days. A lot of that was inflated by the bullpen and some bad games from Keller and the “bullpen” starts. When you add the talent of Chandler, Ashcraft, Harrington and Burrows, not to mention Barco coming on strong and a returning Oviedo, the Bucs have pitching that teams are envious of. We just need some bats.
They already wasted 2 seasons of him. Only 4 left. But can’t leave him walk for nothing so only 2 or 3 left.
Need to spend money on free agent hitters and bullpen arms to compete this coming year.
Not going to win with pitchers only getting a run or two of support. Without some upgrades, bullpen will give up any small leads.
Nutting has rarely out bid other teams for free agents. We always hear that the Pirates are interested but the checkbook stays closed and they sign elsewhere.
Cherington must be instructed by the higher ups to wait to see who nobody wants and low ball them with an offer.
That policy failed this year in CF and 1B. Unless something changes it will be another frustrating year for Pirate fans.
Maybe we will at least see the last of Cherington and Shelton who both should already be gone after a year where the team regressed.
Cherington previously said that they would focus on making trades and not signing free agents so I expect more of the same with this cheap organization
That stinks for Pittsburgh fans ! Future couldn’t be any more promising !
Go get Walker or Santander then have padres sign and trade them kim and arroaz. That should get em another 2 runs per game
Walker ain’t going anywhere, Santander probably not going to repeat his 2024. Kim has a hurt shoulder and might not play SS in 25. Arraez??? Maybe put him at 1B if Reynolds isn’t moved there?
On another Pirates blog someone mentioned dealing for Lowe of the Rangers. That’s something we can get behind.
Cherington needs to find a hitting coach that is far better than Andy Haines was.
The team set and broke the franchise record in strikeouts in two of his three seasons as coach
They struck out over 1500 times this past season
Sign cutch
Sign a 1b and OF who has been proven to be at least near average.
Sign a couple pen arms in of being a decent “sure thing”
The Chapman signing proved to be okay despite my objection. To be fair it was only okay mostly because Bednar fell apart and Chapman did well and he still has the heat. Maybe him again if he will take a bit of a cut.
Maybe sign a veteran starter as a 4/5 guy. Depth, flip or inning eater for when the plan fails again.
Ben’s failure at development started to show in 2024. A new MLB staff could help that maybe?
Cherington wants to move Reynolds to first base in the spring
oh i havn’t heard that. May not be a bad idea. If they cannot get a quality 1b and can get a quality OF doesn’t sound unreasonable to try. Bryan wasn’t great in the OF last year but needs in the line up. where ever you can stick him in.
regardless of where he is, they need at least two proven near average bats regardless of how they get them. They need to get run support for what seems to be a near future darn good rotation.
It’s a foregone conclusion that the Pirates will not be after any of the top 1B targets (Walker, Alonso, Goldy). There’s probably some logic in feeling that it might be easier to land good value with a FA outfielder – which is why the Reynolds move might not be so bad. I’m not saying the are fits with the Pirates, but for what Goldy would cost, the Pirates could land guys like Michael Conforto or Max Kepler. I’d be more willing to roll the dice on one of them than an aging nemesis somehow having one more good season.
There are plenty of FA bullpen arms that would be affordable, so I do think the Pirates will look to shore up some depth on that front. They could use help/upgrades at 2B and 3B, but I don’t think they’ll actively pursue that.
Then there’s the surplus of starting pitching. Not a popular opinion here, I’m sure, but I think I’d be looking to deal Jones if I’m looking for a big impact bat with team control. I have my doubts about his continued success and health, but the arm is still tantalizing enough to really get a haul back for him – more than we’d get for Bubba, Ashcraft or Harrington. One of those guys could eventually surpass Jones anyway, and the FA list has several guys who fit the inning-eating swingman profile – not to mention Oviedo will also be back. As for a target for Jones – I’d kick the tires on Bleday for sure, or Lawrence Butler with some other decent piece.