"The Pirates took a step back in 2025 and fired manager Derek Shelton early in the season. He was replaced by his bench coach, , who'll take over in the dugout into 2026 and beyond. General manager Ben Cherington's job status prompted plenty of speculation, but he'll be back for 2026 as well. Can the Pirates finally turn things around?"
"The Pirates have drawn increasing levels of praise for their excellent core of young pitching, headlined by likely NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, but the team's collection of bats is miles behind its impressive stable of arms. Anemic offense proved to be Pittsburgh's downfall yet again in 2025. The Pirates scored just 583 runs -- last in the majors and nearly 300 fewer than the MLB-leading Yankees' mark of 849."
"Cherington's job security was the source of considerable speculation late in the year. He'll be back for 2026, but with Shelton out the door and owner Bob Nutting calling for "urgency" -- a rich declaration from an owner who hasn't signed a free agent to a multi-year deal in a decade -- there's mounting pressure for the sixth-year Pittsburgh GM to bolster the lineup in support of a strong pitching staff."
The Pirates dismissed manager Derek Shelton early in 2025 and installed his bench coach as manager for 2026 and beyond. General manager Ben Cherington will remain in place despite late-season scrutiny. Payroll commitments include $30.5 million for 2026 and $130.5 million in long-term obligations through 2030. The roster features an elite young pitching core led by Paul Skenes, but the offense was historically weak, producing 583 runs and just 117 homers. The lineup ranked near the bottom in batting average, OBP and last in slugging. The team plans to add hitters, using trades of veterans to acquire MLB-ready bats.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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