Paul Skenes will certainly be happy to hear this news regarding the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After the 2025 MLB season, Paul Skenes sent a pretty clear warning to the Pittsburgh Pirates: improve, or else.
Skenes didn't say that in so many words, but he made it very obvious that he was already tired of losing and fully expected the Pirates to spend some money this winter.
The New York Yankees rumors surely frightened Pittsburgh, as well.
While the Pirates haven't landed any genuine big-name players, striking out on Kyle Schwarber and failing to really receive legitimate interest from the elite talents, they made some moves.
They signed Ryan O'Hearn. They swung a trade for Brandon Lowe (while also adding Jake Mangum in the same deal). They landed an intriguing former Boston Red Sox prospect in Jhostynxon Garcia.
Is it enough to vault Pittsburgh into serious World Series contention? No, but with the Bucs having a rather impressive starting rotation, it's possible that the Pirates could contend for a Wild Card spot ... or at least be respectable.
And the best news? There are more moves to come in Steel City, at least according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images."The Pirates aren't done, either, and while they aren't flush enough to play in the Tucker-Bichette-Bellinger sandbox, they're approaching a $100 million payroll for the first time," Passan wrote.
Passan didn't name any specific targets for Pittsburgh, but it's clear that times are a bit different for the Pirates in 2026.
"This is not necessarily a reason to celebrate -- owner Bob Nutting needs to show a lot more than one active winter to reengage a fan base scarred by years of negligence -- but at least it is one step in a direction with which Pittsburgh is eminently unfamiliar," Passan added.
Pittsburgh has made just three playoff appearances since 1993, with all three trips coming between 2013 and 2015. The Buccos have logged just one winning season since and have finished last in the NL Central five of the last seven years.
Skenes wants to see progression, and who could blame him? The superstar pitcher is under team control through 2029, so the Pirates are under no obligation to trade him anytime soon. Skenes knows he is stuck for now, so he wants to put some pressure on the organization.
We'll see if Pittsburgh's offseason activity ultimately pays off next season and in the future.