Pirates miss out on Jorge Polanco and time is running out to prove they’re serious

The Pittsburgh Pirates appeared to be a favorite for Jorge Polanco... until they weren't.

The star second baseman signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets in free agency, an eminently affordable deal for a player who hit 26 home runs and posted a 134 wRC+ this past season.

Considering that the Pirates badly need power hitters and supposedly have money to spend this offseason, missing out on Polanco after coming up short in the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes isn't the best look.

There's still plenty of free agents (and trade targets) who could aid in the Pirates' push back to the playoffs next season, but with the Winter Meetings in the rearview mirror, it's clear that that time is running out on the Buccos to put their money where their mouth is.

Pirates can't continue to wait out market after missing Jorge Polanco and Kyle Schwarber

Acquiring Jhostynxon Garcia in the Johan Oviedo trade was a savvy move by Ben Cherington, but he's just a rookie outfielder. He won't single-handedly fix what ails the Pirates' offense (nor will waiver-wire pickup Marco Luciano).

There are still reasonable targets available like Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays or free agent Ryan O'Hearn, but the Pirates' chance to nab a star is fading fast.

Though the team may be interested in expanding its payroll, it won't be enough to sign Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, or any of the "Big 3" Japanese free agents (Kazuma Okamoto, Munetaka Murakami, and Tatsuya Imai). Plus, Ketel Marte reportedly has the Pirates on his five-team no-trade list.

It'd be less than ideal if the team had to dip into its pitching coffers to swing a trade for an impact bat when so many free agents who fit that description are available, but to date, Pittsburgh has missed out on all of its top targets. The time to act is now, lest the Pirates continue their ignominious streak of offseasons without handing out a multi-year contact (the last was Iván Nova in 2016).

Of course, it's possible the Pirates haven't really been serious about shelling out real money, instead making offers to players like Josh Naylor and Schwarber with the knowledge that they'd be turned down. That'd at least give them some plausible deniability with fans and the MLBPA.

For now, let's just continue to optimistically assume the team recognizes the perilous situation it finds itself in. Paul Skenes is the best pitcher in the world, but he won't be around forever. Giving him (and the rest of the pitching staff) even a semblance of a big-league offense could do wonders for the Pirates' chances in 2026 and beyond.