This offseason blueprint could set the Pirates up for competitive baseball in 2026

Ben Cherington is back as the GM of the Pirates, and if last season wasn't the "make or break" year for him, then this one certainly is. The offense is a mess, and the pitching staff is now being run by a new coaching hire.

Free agency is officially starting up, and that grabs most of the attention every offseason. There are still a handful of other things the Pirates need to focus on this offseason, too. Pittsburgh got their offseason started by placing a handful of players on waivers, but there is still work to be done.

Let's go over a blueprint of what the Pirates offseason could look like, focusing on their signings-and-trades budget while also monitoring the roster and other important internal decisions.

This Pirates' offseason blueprint could set them up for competitive baseball in 2026.

Protect these four prospects before Rule 5 Draft Deadline

One of the most impressive prospects in the organization is Esmerlyn Valdez. He is killing it in the Arizona Fall League and had a great year in Greensboro and Altoona. He is a no brainer to protect ahead of the deadline. As it sits right now, the Pirates have just one 40-man spot open and Valdez is a near-lock to grab it. The Pirates should definitely open up three more spots for three more pitchers.

Those three are Antwone Kelly, Wilber Dotel, and Brandon Bidois. All three showed signs of being worthy of this honor. Bidois went on a ridiculous hitless streak, Kelly posted a 3.02 ERA across two levels, and Dotel reached triple digits. Kelly and Dotel both cracked the top 10 prospects in the organization on Baseball America's updated list. These three should either be added/protected or traded, instead of being lost for nothing.

Non-tender three struggling players

To open up some room for these prospects, the Pirates can save the DFA hassle and save some money by non-tendering Jack Suwinski, Yohan Ramirez, and Colin Holderman. Those three are projected to make a combined $4.6 million next season.

Ramirez showed strikeout upside with a 12.15 K/9, but his ERA reached 5.40 across 33.1 innings. Suwinski struck out at a 32% rate and posted a 55 wRC+. Holderman generated a 7.01 ERA and was on the injured list multiple times last season. These three just won't cut it, and with the roster space needed, these three are the first to go.

Shake up outfield with two new faces

According to MLB Insider Mark Feinsand, the Pirates are willing to spend $30-$40 million this offseason, which is a lot more than usual. That can be used to rebuild the outfield and push Bryan Reynolds to DH. Andrew McCutchen may not return as the DH and Reynolds isn't strong defensively, so plugging him in as the DH isn't the worst idea. So with two openings in the outfield, who could they pick up?

Mike Yastrzemski is the first target, a consistent guy that will give you an above-average wRC+, landing at 106 last season. He added a .735 OPS and 17 home runs. His defense was decent too, helping his fWAR reach 2.4. Baseball America is projecting him to land a two-year deal worth $20 million. The Pirates seem more likely to target a one-year deal, especially considering Yaz is 35 and will turn 36 next summer.

The other outfielder who should be analyzed is Austin Hays. The Pirates missed their chance to get him on a cheaper deal last season, and he did fairly well with the Reds, earning a raise. He posted a 105 wRC+ with 15 home runs and a .768 OPS. Baseball America also projected him to land a contract worth $11 million.

Spending a combined $20 million on two outfielders seems like a stretch for Pittsburgh, but if what Feinsand reported is true, this is how they should spend some of it.

Two reunions add left-handed depth to bullpen

The only two left-handers on the 40-man roster are Evan Sisk and Hunter Barco. Both will likely start 2026 in Triple-A, so the Bucs will need to add some southpaws in the bullpen.

A reunion with Justin Wilson would work perfectly for Pittsburgh. Last season, he posted a 3.35 ERA with a 2.95 FIP and 10.61 K/9. At 38 years old, he should be on the cheaper side. A contract for him would probably be a one-year deal worth around $3 million.

Along with Wilson, the Pirates should also bring back Ryan Borucki. Although his 2025 wasn't great, generating a 4.63 ERA with a 4.25 FIP and a 8.23 K/9, his advanced metrics indicate he could bounce back. He posted a great 29.8% whiff rate, along with a strong average exit velocity of just 87.3 mph. He'd be a cheap addition, too, maybe on a one-year deal worth less than $2 million.

Acquire another infielder to add to the mix

The Pirates still need another infielder to address their remaining hole. Jared Triolo had a great second half, and will likely take over at third base full time to replace Ke'Bryan Hayes. There is still an opening at shortstop, so the Pirates should make an effort to acquire Jordan Lawlar.

This is a bold decision. The former top prospect has struggled in his short major league career, posting a 55 wRC+ with a 35.1% strikeout rate and .545 OPS in 2025. The Diamondbacks are looking to add pitching this offseason, and the Pirates are a perfect trade fit.

In exchange, the Pirates could send over Thomas Harrington. Similarly to Lawlar, Harrington has struggled in a short big league stint. Harrington is still considered a top 10 prospect in the organization and has still done well in Triple-A. Both teams would be buying low on top prospects that are off to cold starts, yet could add high upside depth to the organization at positions of need.

With this blueprint, the Pirates would add two veteran outfielders that still bring an above-average bat, equating to around $20 million spent. Additionally, their left handed relief depth would get deeper with familiar faces (and at a cheap cost). Lastly, this plan adds another infielder to a group that has struggled, while giving up some of their pitching surplus to bet on top prospect pedigree. There would also still be enough remaining financial flexibility for Cherington to maybe do more. Regardless, the moves detailed above would really help the Pirates start moving in the right direction towards competitive baseball.