The Pittsburgh Pirates must consider these things as the front office makes its offseason move.
As the Pittsburgh Pirates figure out what moves they’re going to make this offseason, there are a couple of priorities that must be high on the front office’s to-do list.
Let’s get into some of them.
Pirates Must Add To The Lineup
The Pirates being a playoff team in 20256 is already a long shot. But even for this team to remain somewhat competitive next summer, they must add to the lineup; it doesn’t matter if it’s in the infield, outfield, or designated hitter.
In 2025, Pittsburgh ranked dead last in MLB with an OPS of .655. It also hit the fewest home runs (117) and scored the least amount of runs (583) in all of baseball.
It’s time for the Pirates to address the lineup and give Pittsburgh's strong pitching staff some run support next season.
Determine Oneil Cruz’s Future
Oneil Cruz was one of the most exciting prospects in baseball when he was making his way through Pittsburgh’s farm system.
Unfortunately, Cruz’s big-league career has gone great so far, registering a slash line of .233/.309/.425 through his first five seasons. Admittedly, there have been some injuries in there, too.
If the Pirates still believe he can develop into being an All-Star talent, great. But there’s also a case that Pittsburgh should be listening to trade offers for the 27-year-old.
If the Pirates are going to trade Cruz, this offseason should be the time to do it. He isn’t arbitration-eligible until after the 2026 season, and won’t be a free agent until 2029. Right now, Cruz should have some solid trade value, but if the Pirates wait any longer and he continues to struggle, that value will only fall.
Pittsburgh must determine Cruz’s future this winter.
Jun 28, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) hits a single against the New York Mets during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesIdentify Extension Candidates
The Pirates may be willing to spend money in free agency this winter, but that doesn’t mean a player on the open market will come to Pittsburgh. If the front office strikes out in all of their free agent discussions, that money they were willing to spend shouldn’t go to waste.
In that case, Pittsburgh should pivot to its own organization and see who it can sign to a contract extension.
Would Paul Skenes be open to staying with the Pirates after his first initial six years of team control are up? What about signing Bailey Falter or Mitch Keller before they hit free agency? Sure, neither Bubba Changler nor Konnor Griffin has made their MLB debuts, but we’ve seen other prospects sign long-term big-league deals before getting the call.