How the Pirates can meet the minimum expectations they're setting for their offseason

The sort of rumors coming from the Pittsburgh Pirates' camp this offseason has felt like no other winter in recent history. We’ve heard rumors that they offered first baseman Josh Naylor a competitive contract. They’re reportedly going after some of the best hitters on the market, like Jorge Polanco, Kazuma Okamoto, and Ryan O’Hearn. They may even be trying to shop with the big markets, actively pursuing Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, with new reports suggesting they may even be willing to offer $100+ million for Schwarber's services. In terms of trade rumors, fans have heard Ketel Marte, Brandon Lowe, Brendan Donovan, and Jeff McNeil all linked to Pittsburgh.

That is a lot of high-profile names, and with how abysmal the Pirates’ offense was last year, many of these players would give Pittsburgh exactly what they need to be an actual competitor in 2026. However, this sort of talk is building hype we haven’t seen from Pirates fans in years. The expectations for the rest of this offseason are going to be high, and the question becomes, what is the minimum the Pirates can do to even somewhat satisfy these expectations?

The Pirates cannot walk away from this offseason without adding multiple bats, with one at least being a legitimate power threat. It doesn’t have to be Alonso or Schwarber, but it must be someone who can add 20+ homers and a .200+ isolated slugging percentage to the lineup. The best fits would be Polanco, Okamoto, or Eugenio Suarez, with Polanco standing out as the most ideal option. The switch-hitter crushed 26 home runs with a .226 isolated slugging percentage. Overall, he had an .821 OPS, .350 wOBA, and 132 wRC+.

There are many reasons for the Pirates to choose Polanco over Okamoto/Suarez (as long as all parties are interested in Pittsburgh). Polanco is a proven MLB batter, unlike Okamoto, and his underlying numbers are better than Suarez’s, ranking above the 70th percentile across all expected stats, with a higher exit velocity and barrel rate. He is also younger than Suarez, and MLB Trade Rumors projects him to make less than either of the two corner infield sluggers (on an AAV basis). PNC Park is also far less favorable to right-handed power hitters like Suarez and Okamoto. Meanwhile, Polanco is a switch-hitter. Power is what the Pirates need, and adding a true power threat is an absolute must; that is precisely what Polanco is. 

Adding multiple bats is the least the Pirates can do, given all these rumors.

Adding one bat isn’t enough. This is a lineup that averaged fewer runs per game last year than they did during the Deadball Era. Two truly reliable hitters would be the very minimum, and if we’re settling for the minimum, it has to be either Ryan O’Hearn in free agency and/or one of the many trade opportunities must come to fruition. O’Hearn turned in a .281/.366/.437 triple-slash with a 127 wRC+. He hit a career-high 17 home runs, albeit in a career-high 544 plate appearances. Still, he has hit at least 14 homers in each of the last three regular seasons.

If they don’t add a free agent, then they must add a second (or preferably third) bat through trade. Ketel Marte would be the best possible player, but adding Lowe, Donovan, McNeil or CJ Abrams is a must if Pittsburgh doesn't sign another hitter. Lowe would be the best power option, given he hit 31 home runs in 553 plate appearances with a .221 ISO last year. Donovan is the most consistent bat available, as he is all but guaranteed to hit .280 with a wRC+ hovering around 120 and a dozen home runs. McNeil is coming off a solid rebound season and is the best second base defender of this group. His new approach, emphasizing more pull-side power, would work well at PNC Park. The Pirates haven't been directly linked to Abrams, but as fellow Rum Bunter writer Ethan Fisher previously wrote, he would be perfect for the Pirates. The Nationals are increasingly likely to move the middle infielder this offseason, and his power/speed combo would greatly improve the Pirates.

Adding legitimate hitting shouldn’t be the only expectation the Pirates must meet. Signing one pitcher with high-leverage experience should also be a minimum requirement for this offseason. Pete Fairbanks, Kyle Finnegan, and Tyler Rogers are right-handed relievers the Pirates should be looking into. In terms of lefties, former friend Justin Wilson, along with the likes of 2025 division rivals Drew Pomeranz, Caleb Thielbar, and former All-Star Gregory Soto, should be names on the Pirates’ radar.

Among those players, Rogers, a submariner, would be the best right-handed option. Rogers has pitched at least 70 innings every season since 2021. This season, he pitched a career-high 77.1 frames with a career-low 1.98 ERA. He was also in the 99th percentile of exit velocity at 85.8 MPH, and the 100th percentile of barrel percentage at 2.1%. His 2.3% walk rate also marked the second season in a row he’s had a sub-3% BB%.

Thielbar has the best underlying numbers of the lefty relievers the Pirates should have on their radar. He struck out 25.5% of batters with a 5.9% walk rate. The left-hander was also immune to hard contact, with a 78th percentile barrel rate (6.6%) and 82nd percentile exit velocity (87.9 MPH) over 58 innings. Thielbar also had a strong 111 Stuff+ mark. 2026 may be his age-39 season, but his 2025 season was arguably his most promising yet.

Expectations for the Pirates, based on the recent rumors, are skyrocketing this offseason. If the Pirates are actually serious, they need to at least come somewhat close to meeting them. That means adding at least two truly good hitters, including one player we know is going to give the lineup some much-needed thump, as well as a reliever they can rely on in late-inning/high-leverage situations. Sure, everyone would love to see them land Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso, and other players, but this is the minimum we must see from them this offseason. Then, and only then, can the Pirates call this offseason even a measurable success.