Pirates making wrong coaching move is a sign of how lost they are

Pittsburgh Pirates fans knew that changes were coming. Bob Nutting assured them as much.

When announcing a contract extension for manager Don Kelly on Monday, Nutting said through a team-issued statement that winning remained a priority for the Pirates moving forward. In fact, he said that the Kelly extension would be "the first of many steps we will take this offseason to bring winning baseball back to Pittsburgh."

Unfortunately, however, extending Kelly would be the only "step" they got right.

According to multiple sources, including Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Pirates let go of pitching coach Oscar Marin. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com confirmed the report, adding that the organization also let go of third base coach Mike Rabelo.

Additionally, assistant pitching coach Brent Strom told the Pirates six weeks ago that he would not be back in 2026. While there was initial speculation that the 76-year-old would be retiring, Strom said via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he is not retiring and that he is open to joining another club next season.

(Though, if spending one year with the Pirates organization had taken so many years off of Strom's life that it aged him into retirement, we wouldn't blame him one bit.)

Pirates fire the wrong coach and show zero grasp of real problems

If anyone can locate the logic behind the Pirates firing Marin, let us know. We're still trying to find it.

Sure, the Pirates finished in last place in the National League Central division with a 71-91 record and missed the playoffs for the 10th year in a row, but pitching was hardly to blame. In fact, they may have eclipsed 100 losses if it weren't for their pitching staff.

The Pirates' team ERA in 2025 was 3.76, which was seventh in the Major Leagues. They hadn’t finished that high since 2015. Meanwhile, their offense finished dead last in runs scored and home runs, among numerous other categories.

The Pirates' biggest problem this season was so painfully obvious. And yet, upper management wouldn't recognize it if it hit them right in the face – which it wouldn't anyway, because Pittsburgh's bats wouldn't be able to make contact with it.

But sure. Fire the pitching coach – the one guy who was actually competent at his job. This organization couldn't be more unserious if it tried (and it's trying pretty hard).