The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to turn the franchise around in 2026.
As the calendar flips to the new year, here are three of the top Pittsburgh Pirates storylines to follow through 2026.
Will The Pirates Continue To Increase Payroll?
The Pirates have truly shocked the baseball world with their moves so far this offseason. For the first time in truly over a decade, Pittsburgh is investing in proven big-league talent and has added Braond Lowe, Gregory Soto, and Ryan O’Hearn (report) to the roster for 2026.
In total, the Pirates have added an estimated $46.9 million to their future payroll this winter. Although this is an impressive number, for Pittsburgh’s standards, there are still holes on the roster and options on the market to fill them.
Will the Pirates end up signing international star Kazuma Okamoto? Would the front office be willing to pay for third base slugger Eugenio Suarez?
Aug 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) and third baseman Jared Triolo (19) and center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) talk in the middle of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesPittsburgh’s 2026 Playoff Aspirations
The pitching has never been an issue for the Pirates. In 2025, the rotation had a combined ERA of 3.71, and the bullpen had a combined ERA of 3.83. What’s been holding Pittsburgh back has been its lineup.
With the addition of two proven big-league slugger and All-Star hitters in Lowe and O’Hearn, along with some hopeful development from Oneil Cruz and continued solid production from Bryan Reynolds, the Pirates are starting to look like a well-rounded team.
Are these additions enough to make the playoffs? Time will tell. However, the improved lineup should at least keep Pittsburgh playing meaningful baseball through the summer months, something the team hasn’t done over the last few years.
Can Paul Skenes Go Back-to-Back in Cy Young Race
Paul Skenes is undoubtedly the best pitcher on the planet and is coming off another dominant season in which he logged a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, which was good enough to earn earn his first Cy Young award.
If Skenes wins the award in 2026, it'll be his second time in the first three years of his career, giving himself a strong start to what could end up being a Hall-of-Fame career.