PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Optimism is high, even national experts are predicting the Pirates to be better with the potential to compete for the playoffs in 2026. Feelings in Pittsburgh are even higher to end an 11-year playoff draught.
This is a franchise that is a combined 118 games under .500 in the last five seasons. These five things need to happen for that to change.
Offensive additions
In need of bats for years, the Pirates decided 2026 was the time to invest real dollars into improving the offense. Now they need to produce.
Free agents
- 32-year-old Ryan O’Hearn (1B/OF) was the first multi-year free agent signing in nearly a decade, two-years, $29 million. He brings a good on-base percentage .321 for his career, but .366 last year. Decent power, 17 home runs last year, but the hope the Clemente Wall could get him into the 20s.
- Marcell Ozuna was fourth in MVP voting in 2024 with 39 home runs. In 2023 he hit 40 home runs, the 35-year-old dipped to 21 last year and the hope is he is more ’24 than ’25. Ozuna has 296 career homers and will be the steady designated hitter.
Trades
- Trading with Tampa Bay has been a loss for the Pirates most times, they sent promising young starter Michael Burrows to Houston as part of a three-team trade in turn the Bucs got reliever Mason Montgomery, second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum from the Rays. Lowe is the name, an All-Star in 2025, the lefty hit 31 home runs with 83 RBI and a .785 OPS. He should supply more power and don’t want to sleep on Mangum. A late start to his career, Mangum can play every outfield position with good speed (27 stolen bases in 2025) and a team-first attitude you wish all players had.
- Johan Oviedo was to be a part of this year’s rotation, but the Pirates loved the offensive potential of Jhostynxon Garcia. The Password hit .405 with a 1.058 OPS in Spring Training and is immediately the Bucs best position player prospect with a touch of MLB experience.
- At the trade deadline two years ago, Nick Yorke (INF/OF) and Billy Cook (INF/OF) were added, both are on the initial 26-man roster this year.
- There is potential even a trade last year, Rafael Flores (catcher) or one from five years ago, Endy Rodriguez (catcher/infielder) could impact this team.
Young starters stepping up
The prize of the Pirates minor league system for the last five years has been the pitching. They have banked on that youth stepping up.
- Mitch Keller was the first of that group. He has 83 more MLB starts than the rest of the five-man rotation combined.
- Paul Skenes is the ace. Don’t need to waste any other words here.
- Bubba Chandler throws 100 miles-an-hour. He’s a superstar athlete with all of the tools. Can he be a consistently good MLB pitcher? In seven games with the Pirates, 4.02 ERA/0.92 WHIP last year and in 24 games in AAA, a 4.14 ERA/1.48 WHIP
- Only injury has held Braxton Ashcraft back, he’s been in the Pirates system for eight years and is finally healthy. Can he reach that potential over a full season because he had a 2.71 ERA in 69.2 innings with 71 strikeouts as a rookie in MLB in 2025.
- Carmen Mlodzinski started in the rotation last year and pitched his way out. He’s back again to fulfill his wish.
- While relievers, left-hander Hunter Barco and free agent Jose Urquidy are starters in waiting, they can pitch multiple innings and either are a quick fix if there are struggles or injuries.
- Plus, right-hander Jared Jones returns from Tommy John surgery at some point midseason.
Waiting for Konnor
Veteran MLB reporters, observers, former players and front office-types have said amazing things about Konnor Griffin’s potential. He won’t be ready for Opening Day and its unknown when he might be called up. That being said, few have doubted his potential, but if it takes time, and it does for some, the Pirates will need Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales and potentially a few others to step up. Can they do enough offensively to help this team move up from dead last in baseball in scoring runs?
Bullpen shove
Even when the team has struggled,
- Dennis Santana is the closer. In his first half-season in that role last year he had 16 saves (two blown saves) with a 2.18 ERA and 0.867 WHIP.
- The Bucs signed a pair of veteran free agent left-handers—Gregory Soto, 31, 15-34, 4.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and Mason Montgomery throws 100 mph. He’s 25-years-old and had 63 strikeouts in 46 innings. It’s about control, his 27 walks and 49 hits gave him a 1.65 WHIP.
- Former Pitt star Isaac Mattson returned full-time to the majors in ’25 to put up a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 44 games
- It’s the 8th MLB team for Yohan Ramirez, the 31-year-old split time between Indy and the Bucs, a 5.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 45 strikeouts to 16 walks in 33.1 innings.
- The wild card is Justin Lawrence. His arm angle is like few others in the league, before the dealing with right elbow inflammation and missing most of the season last year, he gave up one runs on nine hits and eight walks with 23 strikeouts in 17.2 innings. He has the potential to be a key setup reliever.
Oneil Cruz next level
No position player has the potential of Cruz. That’s what makes him so infuriating at times, you see how hard he hits it, only if he could hit it more often. The 27-year-old dedicated himself to offseason work, specially improving against lefties and hit .370 with a 1.067 OPS in Grapefruit League games. He should see more pitches to hit than he ever has with the additions to the lineup. If he taps into what he might do, this offense takes a large step forward.
From offensive additions, filling in to Konnor to young pitchers
