Pirates President Travis Williams said the goal for the 2026 team is to make the playoffs and they’ll do everything they can to make that happen.
Former MLB pitcher and Butler native Matt Clement says the success or failure of General Manager Ben Cherington’s offseason hinges on one thing… how the trade involving Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller goes.
“Unless he gets lucky with a reclamation project . . . it’s going to come down to what this Keller trade is,” said Clement
He says trading Keller is “inevitable.”
“The challenge (Cherington) has is, I think the best players to come help this lineup are going to come from this Keller trade,” added Clement.
Clement believes that Keller could be a part of a great rotation helmed by Paul Skenes but there is too much value.
He also believes whoever they get in free agency, it won’t be enough to propel the Pirates into a playoff contender.
That’s why, when it comes to the Keller trade, “They can’t mess this one up.”