MLB insider extraordinaire Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday from the MLB General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas that the Pittsburgh Pirates are telling agents and other executives that they plan to be aggressive and spend this offseason.

That is good news for General Manager Ben Cherington, who has received small payrolls from owner Bob Nutting throughout his six-year tenure. The Pirates need to upgrade their roster after finishing the 2022 season with a 71-91 record, placing last in the National League Central and last among MLB teams in runs scored, home runs, and OPS.

However, the interesting part of the money talk is that the Pirates do not plan to raise their payroll in 2026, following a drop in attendance this year. While 'spending' might be a good word from a public relations standpoint, as Nutting tries to win back angry fans, the proper term for what the Pirates plan to do this offseason is 'redistribute funds.'

So, how will the Pirates have funds to redistribute? The first step came in July when they traded Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds in a deal that saved them approximately $40 million.

The Pirates can also free up more money if they trade right-hander Mitch Keller this winter, which seems like a foregone conclusion. Keller has approximately $57 million remaining in the final three years of his five-year, $77-million contract, which he signed during spring training in 2024.

Cherington told Fansided's Robert Murray on Tuesday that the Pirates have "more flexibility than we've had in other offseasons than I've been in Pittsburgh."

The Pirates have several positions where they can utilize that financial flexibility, including third base, shortstop, and left field. They could also use more left-handed relief pitching, even after agreeing to terms with free agent Joe LaSorsa on a minor-league contract last weekend.

Another potential area of need would be a reliable veteran starting pitcher to help anchor a young rotation if Keller is traded. Keller's most significant value might be his durability, having averaged 182 2/3 innings per season over the last three years.

So, Cherington has plenty of areas where he can spend, even if "redistribute" is the more accurate word.