4 Pirates who definitely won't be back for the 2025 season

As the Pittsburgh Pirates put yet another disappointing season behind them, it's time to reflect on the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.

Yes, the Pirates sustained yet another second-half collapse that saw them tumble out of the Wild Card race and finish in last place in the National League Central Division; but they also gave us plenty to look forward to in 2025, including a formidable starting pitching rotation anchored by NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Paul Skenes.

But, as we wait patiently for next year, maybe the real treasure is the friends we made along the way. Here are four players who have likely played their last games in a Pirates jersey.

4 Pirates who definitely won't be back for the 2025 season

Jalen Beeks

Jalen Beeks has been a serviceable left-handed relief option for the Pirates in the second half of 2024, but it's likely he won't be back in 2025. The Pirates got him at a discount and are only on the hook for about $550,000 of his $1.6 million salary in 2024 after acquiring him at the trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies. With Ryan Borucki and waiver pickup Joey Wentz on the roster next season, it's hard to see Pittsburgh keeping Beeks.

Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman was the highest paid player on the Pirates roster in 2024 with a one-year, $10.5 million contract. He has easily been the Pirates' best shutdown reliever all season, even moving into the closer role late in the year amid David Bednar's continued struggles. The Pirates would surely love to have him back next year, but he is simply too expensive. Plus, at 36 years old, Chapman is in the twilight of his career, and would probably prefer to play for a team that will pay him more money and give him a legitimate chance to win.

Yasmani Grandal

Like Chapman, catcher Yasmani Grandal is a veteran who signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh and is unlikely to return next season. He played an important role, serving as rookie phenom Paul Skenes' primary catcher throughout the year. But given Joey Bart's breakout year at the plate and Grandal's $2.5 million salary - which is high by Pirates standards, particularly for a backup catcher – the veteran backstop probably won't be back in Pittsburgh.

Connor Joe

This one feels like less of a sure thing, given that Connor Joe can play both first place and right field, and the Pirates seem to like him. However, he is arbitration-eligible after making $2.1 million in 2024, and it's likely that he will become too expensive for the Pirates (which says more about penny-pinching owner Bob Nutting than it does about him). It's nearly impossible to envision this organization paying any more than they have to for a replaceable utility player, particularly one who has been inconsistent at the plate.

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