It was another modest offseason for the Pirates, who are banking on their young arms to carry them into contention.
Major League Signings
- LHP Andrew Heaney: One year, $5.25MM
- DH/OF Andrew McCutchen: One year, $5MM
- OF Tommy Pham: One year, $4.025MM
- LHP Caleb Ferguson: One year, $3MM
- 2B/OF Adam Frazier: One year, $1.525MM
- LHP Tim Mayza: One year, $1.15MM
- RHP Elvis Alvarado: split deal, later lost to Athletics on waivers
2025 spending: $19.95MM
Total spending: $19.95MM
Option Decisions
- Club declined $15MM option on LHP Marco Gonzales
Trades and Claims
- Claimed IF Tristan Gray off waivers from Athletics (Gray was later outrighted, elected free agency and signed with the White Sox)
- Claimed 1B/OF Trey Cabbage from Astros (Cabbage was later released to sign with NPB's Yomiuri Giants)
- Acquired RHP Peter Strzelecki from Guardians for cash
- Acquired 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz from Guardians for RHP Luis Ortiz, LHP Josh Hartle, LHP Michael Kennedy
- Acquired IF Enmanuel Valdéz from Red Sox for RHP Joe Vogatsky
- Acquired RHP Brett de Geus from Blue Jays for cash (later lost de Geus to Marlins on waivers)
- Acquired RHP Chase Shugart from Red Sox for RHP Matt McShane
- Claimed RHP Justin Lawrence off waivers from the Rockies
Extensions
- None
Notable Minor League Signings
- Yohan Ramírez, Isaac Mattson, Tanner Rainey, Hunter Stratton, Carson Fulmer, Nick Solak, Darick Hall, Burch Smith, Bryce Johnson, DJ Stewart, Ryder Ryan, Ryan Borucki
Notable Losses
- Luis Ortiz, Yasmani Grandal, Aroldis Chapman, Jalen Beeks, Rowdy Tellez, Michael A. Taylor, Marco Gonzales, Billy McKinney, Jake Woodford, Justin Bruihl, Edward Olivares, Domingo Germán, Connor Joe (non-tendered), Bryan De La Cruz (non-tendered)
It's been a rough few decades for the Pirates. They didn't make the playoffs between 1993 and 2012. They then got three straight Wild Card berths, but advanced to the NLDS just once. They started a new playoff drought in 2016 that continues to this day.
There have been some signs of potential lately. In 2023, they were 20-9 at the end of April, but they went 8-18 in May and finished at 76-86. They hovered near contention last year, sitting at 48-48 at the All-Star break, but again finished at 76-86.
Despite those losing seasons, there are exciting elements on the roster. Their collection of rotation talent is one of the best in the league, fronted by Paul Skenes but also including Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, Mike Burrows and Thomas Harrington. They also have position players Bryan Reynolds, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz in place for years to come.
Ideally, the club would have invested around this young core, but that didn't come to pass this winter. The offseason included one notable trade, which is essentially a risky bet on a late bloomer, and several modest free agent signings. They gave out seven one-year deals, none of them worth more than $5.25MM, spending less than $20MM in total. Some of those moves are fine in isolation but the total package is underwhelming.
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The Pirates are a laughingstock of an organization and Bob Nutting is an utter disgrace to MLB and the city of Pittsburgh.
Unfortunately MLB, for one, couldn’t care less.
They cared enough to give almost half revenue sharing. Extremely generous and necessary. Will need revenue sharing to increase or national tv. Good luck. Nothing else you can do about a guy who is completely clueless on how to build a baseball team or probably any other business. Lucky he inherited what he got because he isn’t too sharp. He should have fired all management. Is there a way to force him to? Also force he hires someone from MLB and not NHL NBA. We know he won’t pay for NFL at least.
The Pirates have never had a better excuse to spend money than right now while they have Skenes.
He will be gone soon, along with any hope of a contender.
No $ to spend. Now can’t or won’t I have no idea. My guess it’s both. He could take less profit but still wouldn’t make a difference.
Wouldn’t matter anyways with this management staff. They would sign the hurt guy or guy who is ready to rapidly decline.
Dismal off season that showed no desire to put a competitive team on the field.
Pittsburgh is now, and always has been, a bad market for baseball..
Even when the team has been one of the best in baseball, it’s attendance has been dismal. They have a low payroll because they have low revenue.
The team made an excellent move this offseason by trading starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and two minor leaguers for first-baseman Spencer Horwitz, who had a .790 OPS last year – better than Pete Alonso. They filled a position of need by trading from a position of strength.
If they can get league average offense from third-base and left-field, they will be a much improved team this year.
Right now, they look an 83 -win team. Not good enough . . . yet. But a big step forward for a team that has been rebuilding in a Bad Market for Baseball..
Okay, Dick.
What was attendance like when they consistently put quality teams on the field, something they haven’t done in over two decades? Fans show up in places like Pittsburgh for their teams, when their teams do something to show up for them. It is not a bad market for baseball at all. It’s a bad market for a cheap owner.
Attendance in 90s even 70s was weak. Their best years were this century. If they knew baseball would become this popular they would have built a bigger stadium.
Disagree. If you build it they will come.
Pittsburgh is a baseball town. 2.3m shown up in wild card years. Only thing keeping it from 3m was bad weather and stadium size. And that’s after 20 years of losing. If you had the stadium size, weather, and a steady good product it would be for it’s population and incredible sports town.
They spent $19.5 million on players who won’t move the needle when Anthony Santander could have been had for less.
I know Cutch got a chunk of that and I know what he means to the team and the fans. But those warm feelings of nostalgia won’t hold up against another 75 win season. The fact is when you figure in the deferrals in Santander’s contract, there still would have been enough money for Cutch. You just wouldn’t have the immortal Adam Frazier.
To me, the Pirates’ offseason was the most egregious failure in MLB. They have been lying to their fans. They have no intention of shifting in to competitive mode. Ever. Their beautiful stadium should sit COVID style empty all season.
Have to have Cutch. I would much rather have Cutch than Santander. They needed bullpen arms. They needed Heaney. Might not move the needle but it protects young arms and gets them extra year of team control. And their depth isn’t that good.
Look what Cleveland Milwaukee etc spent on payroll. Maybe Nutting is cheap. Maybe he is truly poor. Doesn’t matter because other teams with superior attendance and playoff revenue aren’t spending much more. A team with under 2m attendance and hasn’t been in playoffs in a decade. Hasn’t won division in 3 decades. Hasn’t won a playoff series in 4 decades. Doesn’t own parking around stadium. They don’t have the payroll. Obviously they could pocket no or less $ but why own a business that doesn’t make $. No plans to sell team.
Payroll next year will be the same as it is now with only free agent signing being Cutch at 5m. And that’s with them trading non tendering Bednar Santana so they don’t have to pay arb3.
Unless NY LA wants to hand them more of their $ even defer $ is a issue.
And are they not even going to try to extend Skenes or Jones or anyone?
Maybe all these small markets are greedy and just pocketing all this $. Looking at Braves records though it doesn’t seem to be the case.
Profar looked like a fair price to me.
It’s more bad management than $. Grichuk looked good to me. Heck Canha did and signed for minor league deal. Obviously $ is the key but they passed on cheap guys who seemed to be able to help.
Pirates off season in two words…on brand
*Not a compliment.
Offensive Improvement:
The Pirates have made some additions, but the overall impact on offensive production remains to be seen. The addition of Spencer Horwitz is a positive move. However, more offensive production is needed.
Grade: C
Pitching Staff Development:
The Pirates have a focus on developing their pitching staff, with promising young arms. The presence of Paul Skenes is a huge positive. The bullpen still has areas of concern.
Grade: B
Defensive Consistency:
The Pirates are working to improve their defensive play. This area is showing signs of improvement.
Grade: C+
Prospect Integration:
The Pirates’ success hinges on the development and integration of their prospects. This is an ongoing process.
Grade: B-
Overall Evaluation:
The Pirates’ offseason reflects a continued focus on building through their farm system. Overall, they would likely receive a grade in the C+ range.
A realistic win projection for the Pirates would be in the 70-77 win range.
I agree with your win projection, but I feel like a C+ is giving them too much credit.
F
Should have fired manager gm and the hockey guy. Another year wasted of Skenes and company. Another year of weak player development.
Off season was a D until they f’d up the medicals of Horowitz just got another random injury to same trashed wrist. They need reliable 1b. Should have replaced him. Should have added another.