Pirates Could Take Chance on 35-Year-Old Future Hall of Famer, but There's Risk

I think it's important to recognize that the Pittsburgh Pirates don't have to go out and make some outlandish moves for this team to improve on both sides of the baseball during the offseason. 

Nobody is saying Pittsburgh has to spend $500-plus million to compete, but it has to make the right decisions from top to bottom to give itself a chance to at least make the postseason. 

Things improved a lot this past year for the Pirates, finishing above .500 and putting themselves in a position to make the playoffs for much of the season, but failing to do so again. 

Next year, the pressure will be even higher if the front office does what it has to do.

Among the many problems the Pirates had last season outside the bullpen and catcher situation, finding a long-term third baseman needs to be at the top of the priority list. Unfortunately for the Pirates, there isn't a slew of options currently available on the free-agent market who can play third, so it's probably better to make a trade for a veteran who can come in and make a decent-sized impact. 

One of those guys is Nolan Arenado, with one recent trade idea suggesting he'd be a great fit in Pittsburgh.

“Arenado fits a lot of what the Pirates need this offseason: a third baseman who is strong defensively, a right-handed power bat and a veteran who can lead. There haven't been many better defensive third basemen in recent history than Arenado, who won 10 straight Gold Glove Awards from 2013-22. Arenado wasn't amazing last season, -4 defensive runs saved (DRS) and +2 outs above average (OAA), but has been solid in prior years. While his defense wasn't as impressive in 2026, he improved offensively, batting .255/.331/.475 for an OPS of .806 in 152 games, with 136 hits, 25 doubles, 30 home runs and 86 RBI. 

“Arenado posted his first .800 OPS and 30-home run season since 2022 and was so much better than 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he hit .237/.289/.377 for an OPS of .666,” Dominic Campbell wrote.

Arenado is tough to evaluate, given that he's 35 years old and has had some down seasons in recent years. 

He’s coming off a year in which he popped 30 home runs, but he also hit 12 the year prior and just 16 in 2024. If the Pirates can get the guy that he was this past season or in 2023, they'd be in a very good spot. 

However, if it's the Arenado we've seen at times over the past couple of seasons, he's a bit overpaid and not the same caliber player he once was.