MLB tier list exposes lingering questions around the Pirates roster

We all know the Pittsburgh Pirates are much improved compared to last season, but exactly where they stack up when compared to the rest of the league is the real question. They won't be bottom-feeders in 2026, but who are their true peers?

That's the question Mike Petriello tried to answer for all 30 MLB clubs in MLB.com's tier rankings. There are nine different tiers in the ranking, and while Petriello explains it's not simply a categorization of good to poor. Instead, it's a forward-looking exercise that considers where a team is coming from and where they're going.

With that in mind, the Pirates' placement in the sixth tier isn't as bad as it seems. Their categorization, "what if you had a top-five hitter and pitcher zone," is incredibly accurate when you really think it through.

MLB.com's tier rankings point out the remaining hurdle the Pirates must clear to get to the realm of true contenders

The Pirates share that tier with just one other team  —  the Kansas City Royals. The idea is that each team has a legitimate superstar on one side of the ball or the other. In this case, Paul Skenes in the Pirates rotation and Bobby Witt Jr. in the Royals lineup.

Skenes isn't just a superstar; of course, he's the best pitcher in the game and poised to set all kinds of records. Last year, his starts came in front of the league's worst offense. This year, that won't be the case.

The trio of Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna being infused into the lineup will raise the floor considerably, but as Petriello writes, "The rosters have questions, but having a pair of superstars would sure paper over a lot of issues."

Pittsburgh has compromised defense in its pursuit of offense, still has some shakiness in the bullpen, and has some questions in the rotation with the inexperienced arms towards the back end supporting Skenes at the top.

Some of those issues will have positive outcomes that cause us to rethink how big a concern they really are, while others are just facts of life. To truly contend and make a deep playoff run, you don't need to have a flawless roster. The Dodgers didn't last year with their subpar bullpen — but they had the magic bullet, which is enough star power for the deficiency not to matter all that much.

So while the offseason additions will improve the offense, none of them are superstars. Starting from the cellar, this trio of professional hitters will bring up the floor, but the question is by how much? Not enough to eclipse all of the deficiencies still present on the roster overall.

But adding a Witt Jr.-like superstar to that group of incoming veterans and the rest of the pieces in the lineup could be enough to bring enough overwhelming talent to the forefront that it renders what the roster is lacking irrelevant.

Now, there's a wild card in the mix for Pittsburgh, and his name is Konnor Griffin. The top prospect in baseball has been compared to Witt Jr., and even if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, it's likely he's not down in the minor leagues for long.

Of course, it's unreasonable to expect Griffin to be Witt Jr., or a superstar of any sort, right out of the gate. He's still so young and so much can still happen. But if the stars align, the Pirates could have their second superstar, and with that, the entire outlook could change.