The Buccaneers took a step back in 2025 and fired head coach Derek Shelton early in the season. He was replaced by a bench coach, Don Kellywho will take over the dugout in 2026 and beyond. General manager Ben Cherington’s job status has been the subject of much speculation, but he’s also set to return in 2026. Can the pirate group finally turn the situation around?
guarantee contract
Total 2026 commitments: $30.5MM
Total long-term commitments: $130.5MM through 2030
option decision
Arbitration-eligible players (service time in parentheses; salary projections provided by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
free agent
The Pirates are receiving increasing praise for their elite core of young pitching, including a possible NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenesbut the team’s collection of bats lags far behind its impressive array of weapons. In 2025, Pittsburgh’s failures once again proved to be the result of a weak offense. The Pirates scored just 583 runs, last in the majors, and nearly 300 fewer than the MLB-leading Yankees’ 849 runs. Pittsburgh hitters hit just 117 homers, 31 long balls behind the 29th-ranked Cardinals. The Pirates ranked 28th in batting average, 23rd in OBP and last in slugging percentage.
Fixing such a pervasive offensive flaw is no easy task. Cherington’s job security is the source of considerable speculation later this year. He’s set to return in 2026, but with Shelton gone and owner Bob Nutting calling for “urgency” — a rich statement from an owner who hasn’t signed a free agent to a multi-year deal in a decade — the sixth-year Pittsburgh general manager is facing increasing pressure to bolster the roster to support a strong pitching staff.
Even though the Buccaneers are in last place, they seem more likely to add to the roster than subtract from it. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some veteran Buccos available in a trade — there probably will be — but the purpose of such a trade is to acquire young, MLB-ready hitters who can bolster a lineup in dire need of an overhaul. Let’s run through the list and some possibilities.
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