Ben Cherington's offseason comments could become a dangerous promise to Pirates fans

The Pittsburgh Pirates have spent years asking fans to be patient. But this offseason, general manager Ben Cherington might finally be running out of time to make that argument.

With Major League Baseball facing the possibility of a lockout when its current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, Cherington has acknowledged that the Pirates must be prepared to move quickly.

Cherington told reporters at the end of the season that Pittsburgh intends to identify its offseason priorities early enough to capitalize on opportunities before a potential transaction freeze.

"We have to be ready for it," Cherington said. “By November, we’ll have a clear idea of what we want to accomplish in the offseason. And then, we at least have November to see what we can do.”

Well, it's November. And that's an encouraging sentiment. But it's also a potentially dangerous one for a general manager whose track record has given Pirates fans plenty of reasons to question whether his front office can turn offseason intentions into meaningful improvements.

Pirates can't afford another offseason defined by patience with potential lockout looming

Under normal circumstances, Cherington could reasonably defend a patient approach to free agency. Waiting for the market to develop can create opportunities to acquire players at more favorable prices, particularly for an organization operating with Pittsburgh's financial limitations.

But this winter presents an entirely different challenge. If owners impose a lockout when the current agreement expires, major league trades and free-agent signings would be suspended until a new agreement is reached. That could eliminate weeks or potentially months of opportunities for teams to address their roster needs.

For the Pirates, that uncertainty should create urgency rather than hesitation.

Pittsburgh finished 2026 with an 82-80 record, securing its first winning season since 2018 but falling short of the postseason once again. The improvement was meaningful, but it hardly represented the culmination of a rebuild that has already consumed seven seasons.

Pittsburgh's roster still has obvious deficiencies, too. The Pirates need to address their struggles against left-handed pitching, find more consistent production at third base and reinforce their pitching depth. They also face the possibility of losing Brandon Lowe, whose 35 home runs and 96 RBI made him one of their most important offensive contributors. The looming lockout complicates those decisions, but it doesn't absolve the Pirates of responsibility for making them.

Of course, Pittsburgh can't force free agents to sign contracts or opposing general managers to complete trades before December. Some opportunities might not materialize until after a new labor agreement is reached. Still, there's a considerable difference between being unable to complete a deal and failing to pursue meaningful improvements aggressively.

The Pirates finally have enough established talent to justify approaching an offseason with urgency. They can't afford to waste another opportunity waiting for ideal circumstances that might never arrive.

Cherington has now publicly acknowledged that Pittsburgh needs to be prepared to act within a potentially abbreviated offseason window. That makes November an important test of his front office's willingness to capitalize on the progress made in 2026.

Because if the Pirates emerge from a prolonged lockout next spring with essentially the same roster deficiencies, fans will have every reason to question whether the impending work stoppage was an unavoidable obstacle or simply another convenient excuse.

Cherington has spent years preaching patience. This offseason, his own words suggest it's finally time for action.

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