Bleacher Report's 'Most Improved Teams' ranking makes Pirates look even worse

When Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller ranked the top 10 teams who have done the most in the past three months to improve their chances of winning the 2025 World Series, it was no surprise that the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't make the list.

"Given what we've witnessed thus far," Miller wrote, "some teams have made serious improvements while others seem to have missed the memo that they've been allowed to sign free agents for the past three months."

Pittsburgh definitely falls into the latter category. No one who witnessed their frustrating (even by their standards) offseason would expect the Pirates to be on this list. Perhaps if it was a list of teams that improved the least, that would be a different story. But a quick look at the teams that did make the list somehow makes the ineptitude of the Pirates' front office look even worse.

Bleacher Reports 'Most Improved Teams' ranking makes Pirates look even worse

To add insult to injury, two of the 10 teams on Miller's rankings are Pittsburgh's rivals in the National League Central division. The Cincinnati Reds come in at No. 7, while the Chicago Cubs rank at No. 5. According to Miller, a top-six ranking implies that a team has "further solidified themselves as championship contenders with their series of offseason roster moves."

Arguably the Reds' biggest move this offseason was hiring Terry Francona as their new manager back in October. They also made a couple of free agent signings in Nick Martinez (via qualifying offer) and Austin Hays, but they made most of their noise on the trade market in acquiring Gavin Lux, Brady Singer, Taylor Rogers and Jose Trevino. In a very winnable division like the NL Central, that's a needle-moving collection of moves.

Chicago got some big names in Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly via trade from the Houston Astros, plus a handful of other trades and free agent signings. They had the most aggressive offseason of any team in the division; and in the NL Central, that's all it takes to propel you to the top of the projected standings.

Again, the NL Central is a winnable division. The Pirates could have taken a step forward by adding some offense this offseason, especially with their dominant young pitching staff. All they had to do was try. Instead, they got an aging outfielder playing for his 10th team, a utility infielder (because apparently the 47 they already had weren't enough), and a first baseman who won't even be ready for Opening Day. If anything, the Pirates may have gotten worse this offseason.

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