The Pirates are riding a high after sweeping the NL West first place Los Angeles Dodgers, and while we're feeling good about the Bucs, we know the year will likely end with the team well under .500.
But according to MLB prospect expert, the Pirates will be better sooner rather than later.
Jonathan Mayo, of MLB Pipeline, says he believes that the Pirates can be "that team that contending teams don't want to play," in 2023.
Mayo adds though a lot of things would have to happen to make that possible, but if it all does, the Pirates will at least be a pain in the neck for teams looking to make the playoffs.
He compared them to the San Diego Padres of a few years ago.
"Before they were contending, they had all this exciting talent, led by Fernando Tatis, you know they had future starts and they were playing really loose and really good baseball down the stretch," said Mayo.
Mayo also said he believes that 2024 will be when the Pirates are able to bring up the majority of their talent in Double-A Altoona like Henry Davis, Quinn Priester, Liover Peguero and Endy Rodriguez are expected to be with the club by then.
"That's when I think things can get really exciting around here," said Mayo.
Check out Mayo's full comments below.
