Where Do Pirates Land in Post World Series MLB Power Rankings?

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be entering into a crucial offseason, following a successful 2026 season for the franchise.

While the team didn't qualify for the playoffs, extending the long postseason drought, there was much to celebrate. The Pirates finished the season with a winning record, coming in at 82-80 for the year.

But the Pirates also seemed to take another step forward in terms of overall development, with multiple players looking much better. This now gives the Pirates a chance to be a contender next season, with Pittsburgh looking at a possible playoff berth in 2027.

Pittsburgh's offense improved from being ranked No. 30 with 3.60 runs per game to sixth, coming in at 4.73. This should give the team a better chance to compete this next season, but there is plenty of work to do this offseason.

Entering the winter, MLB analyst Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report put together a power ranking for each team in the league. The Pirates came in ranked at No. 13, which is a high spot for this team since they didn't make the playoffs.

After the year ended, there were plenty of players in the clubhouse who expressed hope for the future, giving positive vibes all around. But as the Pirates enter the offseason, it could all be decided by how aggressive the front office wants to be. 

Pittsburgh's first major question to answer is whether they want to retain infielder Brandon Lowe, who will be a free agent. Lowe was awesome for the Pirates this past season, giving the team a major boost offensively.

The slugger hit .260 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs, while putting up an OPS of .824 while playing in 150 games for the Pirates. The big question is whether the Pirates front office will pay what it takes to keep him around, with fans desperately hoping that he remains with the team.

Additionally, the Pirates have to address some other issues, including a left-handed pitching issue. Pittsburgh was one of the worst teams in terms of hitting lefties, and this held them back from going to the playoffs.

The front office will likely bank on the pitching staff to bounce back after a strange year, with ace Paul Skenes getting back on track. And if this happens, mixed with the team spending a little bit, the sky is the limit for the Pirates next season.