Pirates GM Gets Candid on Impending Lockout This Offseason

As the MLB season officially came to an end on Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers taking down the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, all eyes now turn to the impending lockout this offseason.

This has been trending for a while now, and teams all across the league are preparing for it to happen. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, this means even more uncertainty when it comes to finances going forward.

However, this may not stop the team from building out a roster before the CBA agreement expires on December 1. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington knows that this team was very competitive this past season, with Pittsburgh finishing the year 82-80.

While the Pirates didn't make the playoffs, the young core did show a lot of fight down the stretch, and the organization is thinking of more success in 2027. But before that can take place, the team will have to navigate the impending lockout that is likely to occur.

Cherington recently opened up about the lockout, saying that the Pirates will be ready to go before the lockout happens if needed. But the veteran general manager also wants to have more of a clear idea of what will go down before making any moves.

“I think we have to wait and see. I don’t think any of us know yet what will happen early in the offseason, or what will be available to us and what won’t be. We have to be ready for it. By November, we’ll have a clear idea of what we want to accomplish in the offseason. And then, we at least have November to see what we can do," Cherington said.

For the Pirates, this team should be looking to spend this offseason, adding to the ceiling of this roster. Pittsburgh isn't that far off from being a potential contender in the National League, but the front office does need to act this offseason.

The Pirates will have another month to get some work done before the lockout goes down, leaving teams in a holding pattern. Teams all across the league have been putting plans in place for the situation, with Pittsburgh staying active as well.

This could give them a good chance to add to the roster under the current rules of no salary cap, even though historically, the Pirates haven't spent too much. But the comments from Cherington have to be exciting for fans, and this team could be in a good spot to strike this winter.

It remains to be seen if the Pirates will look to spend this coming offseason, but if this team truly wants to go after a postseason spot in 2027, it could be needed. Pittsburgh's front office owes it to the fans and the players, even if it's just them spending a little more than usual to get over the top.