Pirates must pivot fast after free agent misses pile up, margin for error disappears

The Pittsburgh Pirates took some real swings — or wanted us to believe they did — this offseason on Kyle Schwarber, Eugenio Suárez and Framber Valdez, and they missed on all of them. Since then? A depth arm in Jose Urquidy, a minor-league flyer on Mike Clevinger, and a whole lot of waiting while the free-agent bat market dried up.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Urquidy isn’t the Pirates' fifth starter and that the Pirates are still shopping. The problem is, the shelves are basically empty.

So what now? The answer isn’t in a panic move. It’s also not sitting on their hands and calling it “discipline.” The ideal path forward is narrow, but it’s still there — if the Pirates are willing to be decisive.

Pirates' ideal path forward this offseason after whiffing on big-name free agents

Bring back Andrew McCutchen

At this point, Andrew McCutchen isn’t just a nostalgia play — he’s the cleanest remaining offensive upgrade that actually fits this roster and this market.

McCutchen gives the Pirates professional at-bats, platoon flexibility, clubhouse stability for a young core and — perhaps most importantly — a bat that doesn't crater the lineup on days that the young players scuffle.

Is he a middle-of-the-order thumper anymore? No. But the Pirates don’t need a savior. They need competence and reliability — two things that have been painfully absent from the bottom half of their lineup.

If McCutchen truly won’t come back, then yes, Marcell Ozuna becomes the uncomfortable fallback. Strictly on the field, he solves the power problem instantly. Off the field, he creates obvious PR baggage that this franchise absolutely does not need. That’s why McCutchen should be the first call.

Trade for a real third baseman — even if it hurts

This is the most important move left on the board. The Pirates cannot go into Opening Day hoping a patchwork third-base situation with Jared Triolo as the headliner magically holds together. It won’t. Not over 162 games, and certainly not if they’re serious about contending in the NL Central.

That means using leverage — specifically Joey Bart and prospect capital — to acquire an actual, everyday third baseman. Not a bounce-back gamble or a “he can play there if needed," but a real solution.

Bart is valuable. So are the prospects. But value only matters if you convert it into Major League production. With Henry Davis, Rafael Flores and Endy Rodríguez still central to the catching picture, this is precisely the type of surplus you’re supposed to spend.

If the Pirates don’t make this trade now, they’re implicitly admitting they’re fine punting on a key position. Again.

Add a veteran left-handed starter

Signing a veteran left-hander like Jose Quintana or Tyler Anderson isn’t flashy, but it’s smart. It protects innings, stabilizes the back end of the rotation, and prevents the season from hinging on perfect health.

Most importantly, it keeps the Pirates from doing what they always end up doing by May: overexposing depth arms and scrambling. With a talented but inexperienced starting rotation, they don’t need an ace. They just need insulation.

Extend Konnor Griffin — now, not later

This is the forward-thinking move that separates serious organizations from reactive ones.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin is still affordable. That window will not stay open for long. Every good month in the minors makes this more expensive. Every Top-100 list appearance raises the floor. Locking him up now sends a signal the Pirates rarely send: we believe in our future enough to invest early.

Even if Griffin doesn’t debut or become a Major League fixture right away, this is how you avoid another “we should’ve done this sooner” regret (see: Paul Skenes).