The Pittsburgh Pirates head into the 2025-26 offseason with a lot of uncertainty, especially when it comes to their offense. Left field, third base, and lineup production all remain big question marks.
The first few weeks of winter have focused more on shuffling the 40-man roster than making splashy moves. As the rest of the league moves at a crawl, the Pirates seem to be laying the groundwork for bigger decisions before pitchers and catchers show up.
Early Offseason Moves: Clearing Space and Adding Upside
Not much has happened across baseball so far. Only three major free agents have signed, and the trade market is quiet.
The Pirates have used this slow period to tweak the edges of their roster. They’ve cleared out depth players and protected a handful of prospects from the Rule 5 Draft.
They’ve dropped 13 players from the 40-man and added six prospects. That’s a lot of turnover and hints at a shift in how the front office is thinking about the future.
Prospects Added to the 40-Man Roster
The most interesting new names are outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez and right-handed pitchers Antwone Kelly and Wilber Dotel. These guys aren’t about to start every day, but the team sees them as potential building blocks.
Valdez brings athleticism and some promise with the bat, while Kelly and Dotel help deepen the pitching ranks. The Pirates want to keep these players away from other clubs and hope they’ll make an impact in the next year or two.
Free Agency Departures and Outfield Uncertainty
While making those internal moves, the Pirates let a couple of veterans walk and trimmed some depth from the roster. Now, the outfield looks pretty unsettled as the offseason gets going.
For a team that already struggles to score, losing experience makes left field one of the most pressing needs.
McCutchen, Pham, and the Loss of Veteran Stability
Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham both hit free agency, taking with them a lot of leadership and reliable at-bats. The Pirates just don’t have anyone who can fill that role from within right now.
Other players like Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon also left, which thins the depth even more. Currently, only Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz have real major league experience in the outfield, and Cruz usually plays infield anyway.
There’s no clear answer in left field, and that’s a real problem for a team that has trouble scoring runs.
A Thin Infield and the Third Base Question
The infield isn’t much clearer. Third base stands out as the biggest hole right now, with no obvious starter in sight.
Most internal options look more like backups or projects than everyday players. The front office needs to find someone from outside the organization, either through free agency or a trade.
Third Base: From Weak Spot to Priority
Third base is now a top priority. The Pirates need someone who can defend well, hit at least at a league-average level, and stay healthy since there’s little depth behind whoever wins the job.
Stability Behind the Plate Amid Offensive Questions
Catcher is one spot where the Pirates have some stability. They’ve built up a group that can handle a young, developing pitching staff.
Of course, health and development will matter, especially since the team relies so much on its pitching to keep things close.
The Catching Corps: Depth and Opportunity
The Pirates will head into 2025-26 with Joey Bart, Henry Davis, Rafael Flores, and Endy Rodriguez as their catching group. Rodriguez is coming back from injury, but when he’s healthy, he’s a high-upside, two-way player.
Davis is still figuring out his long-term fit, but he brings some pop and can play multiple positions. Bart and Flores add depth and competition, so at least here, the Pirates don’t have to scramble.
Pitching Strength, Bullpen Overhaul, and Left-Handed Concerns
Pitching is still the team’s relative strength, thanks to a new crop of prospects. Most of those arms are still in the minors, though, and the big league rotation isn’t exactly set.
The real worry is the lack of left-handed pitching. That stands out when you look at both the rotation and the bullpen.
Reworking the Bullpen and Protecting the Rotation
The Pirates have really shaken up the right-handed side of the bullpen. They’ve brought in several new arms and kept others, hoping to avoid the bullpen meltdowns that have haunted past seasons.
But there just aren’t enough lefties. Without more balance, late-game matchups will be tough—especially in a division where several teams have dangerous left-handed hitters. Odds are, the Pirates will add at least one lefty reliever or maybe a swingman before the offseason ends.
An Offseason Far From Finished
Right now, the Pirates have been active, but I wouldn’t call it transformative just yet.
Spring training’s still on the horizon, and the market feels like it’s barely waking up. More moves? Yeah, they’re coming. Pittsburgh’s challenge is obvious: turn these little roster shuffles into a plan that actually fixes the offense, shores up the infield, and, hopefully, gives that pitching core a real shot.
Here is the source article for this story: Analysis: Where the Pirates’ roster stands after plenty of reshuffling — and what may come next
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