Jim Bowden's free-agent predictions expose Pirates' most glaring offseason contradiction

The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of holes to fill this offseason, but Jim Bowden's latest free-agent predictions raise an interesting question about whether they're targeting the right ones.

In his ranking of the top 40 free agents for 2026-27, Bowden identified several potential fits for Pittsburgh, including Brandon Lowe, Foster Griffin, Robbie Ray, Gleyber Torres, Daulton Varsho and Gregory Soto.

Five of those six players are either left-handed hitters or left-handed pitchers. Torres is the lone right-handed bat. That's a curious collection of names for a team whose most glaring offensive weakness in 2026 was its inability to hit left-handed pitching.

The Pirates went 18-33 against left-handed starters last season, batting just .229 with a .300 OBP and .359 slugging percentage. All three figures ranked dead last in Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh also struck out at a 25.6% clip against southpaws, the second-worst rate in baseball.

Needless to say, it's a glaring flaw the Pirates can't afford to overlook again.

Pirates can't afford another offseason that ignores lineup balance

To be clear, there's nothing inherently wrong with Bowden's suggested targets. Lowe was arguably Pittsburgh's most valuable position player in 2026, hitting 35 home runs while providing surprisingly excellent defense at second base. Retaining him should remain a priority.

Griffin and Ray could provide much-needed rotation depth, while Soto would offer an experienced bullpen option. Varsho could improve Pittsburgh's outfield defense, and Torres would provide another established offensive presence.

But there's a difference between adding talented players and addressing the specific weaknesses preventing a team from winning. The three pitchers wouldn't affect Pittsburgh's offensive balance, of course. But of the three position players on this list, two struggled against left-handed pitching themselves.

Lowe finished 2026 with a .223 batting average and .648 OPS against lefties. Varsho wasn't much better, posting a .222 average and .615 OPS against southpaws. Both offer value beyond their bats, but neither represents an obvious solution to the Pirates' biggest offensive deficiency.

Torres, meanwhile, posted a .785 OPS and impressive .414 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching in 2026. However, his .237 batting average and two home runs against southpaws suggest he isn't necessarily the complete answer, either. And with Bowden projecting a two-year, $42 million contract for Torres, Pittsburgh would be making a substantial investment in a player who appeared in just 96 games last season.

The Pirates already have some internal reasons for optimism. Oneil Cruz made significant improvements against left-handed pitching in 2026, and Konnor Griffin demonstrated encouraging ability against southpaws during his rookie campaign. But counting on continued internal improvement can't be Pittsburgh's entire strategy.

The Pirates spent years trying to assemble an offense capable of supporting their pitching staff. They finally made meaningful progress in 2026, setting a franchise record for home runs and dramatically improving their overall production. Yet their inability to consistently generate offense against left-handed starters remained a glaring vulnerability.

Adding another starting pitcher, strengthening the bullpen or upgrading the defense would certainly help Pittsburgh compete in 2027. But those improvements won't matter nearly as much if opposing managers can continue neutralizing the lineup simply by sending a left-hander to the mound.

Pittsburgh doesn't just need better players. It needs the right combination of players. And if Ben Cherington spends another offseason addressing everything except the weakness that repeatedly undermined his offense, the Pirates could enter 2027 with a more expensive roster and the same frustrating problem.

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