Pirates Should Pursue Three-Time All-Star Outfielder in Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates' 2026 season is coming to an end as they enter their final series of the year. Pittsburgh improved from 2025, going from a 71-91 record to an 81-78 record with three games to go in 2026.

Despite the improvement, the Pirates are going to miss the playoffs, marking 11 years since they last appeared in the postseason.

Pittsburgh needs to improve their lineup and roster if they want to end their playoff drought in 2027. One player they should target to add to their lineup is three-time All-Star Randy Arozarena.

The 31-year-old will be a free agent this offseason, and he is having a quality year for the Seattle Mariners. In the 2026 season, he is slashing .279/.380/.479 with 26 home runs, 32 doubles, 76 RBIs, 109 runs, 25 stolen bases, and an .859 OPS.

He hit for a much higher average in 2026, but has a career .255 batting average. He would instantly become one of the Pirates' top hitters and help them reach the postseason.

Pittsburgh also needs to prioritize re-signing Brandon Lowe, who will be a free agent after a great 2026 season. Lowe is slashing .262/.332/.493 with 34 home runs, 29 doubles, 95 RBIs, 93 runs, and an .825 OPS.

If the Pirates had both Lowe and Arozarena in the lineup, it would give them some legitimate power.

Another player Pittsburgh will continue to lean on is Konnor Griffin. Griffin had an impressive rookie year, slashing .270/.322/.393 with five home runs, 14 doubles, four triples, 31 RBIs, 42 runs, 23 stolen bases, and a .715 OPS.

He was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and will be one of the most important pieces for the future of the franchise. However, to reach their full potential as a team, the Pirates will rely on an all-around effort.

Pittsburgh will also need more from their star starting pitcher, Paul Skenes. Skenes entered the 2026 season as the NL Cy Young Award winner, but he had a down year, finishing with a 3.82 ERA, 200 strikeouts, 49 walks, and a 1.119 WHIP.

While it wasn't a bad season, it didn't live up to the standards he set in his first two years in the MLB.

The Pirates have plenty of question marks heading into the 2027 season, but if they can land Arozarena in free agency and retain Lowe, it will give them some pieces in the lineup to make a postseason push.