As a kid growing up in suburban Bethel Park, baseball was my first love. I still remember how excited I felt every spring with the anticipation of a brand-new season. The sky seemed suddenly bluer. There was promise in the air. The promise of cheering on the Pirates to a pennant. A real possibility for those Buccos teams of the mid-to-late 1960s.
Topps baseball cards. The pink slab of granite-stale chewing gum that came in each pack that somehow tasted good. Rooting for Roberto Clemente and especially my hero, slugger Willie Stargell (pictured). The Gunner, Bob Prince’s, gravelly voice, crackling over the radio. Hidden vigorish. The Green Weenie.
Maybe it’s the pleasantness of the memories. Memories of a simpler time. But baseball alone wields the unique power to transform me into a 10-year-old boy.
Much to my most pleasant surprise, I’m feeling some of that old excitement today.
The reason? Almost inexplicably, tight-fisted Pirates owner Bob Nutting loosened his stranglehold on the purse strings and allowed GM Ben Cherington to aggressively upgrade a team that was woefully lacking in punch at the plate last season.
A dramatic departure from last offseason, when the Pirates waited till the last minute, only to sign the likes of retreads Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier.
Leveraging our organizational depth on the mound, here’s a quick summary of our GM’s significant moves.
- Dec. 4, 2025—Acquired 23-year-old outfielder and power-hitting prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (21 homers in AAA/AA) from Boston for starting pitcher Johan Oviedo;
- Dec. 15, 2025—Signed 31-year-old lefty reliever and former All-Star closer Gregory Soto to a 1-year deal for $7.75 million;
- Dec. 19, 2025—Acquired 31-year-old Second Baseman Brandon Lowe (31 homers last season), speedy 29-year-old reserve Outfielder Jack Mangum (.296 BA) and flame-throwing lefty reliever Mason Montgomery from Tampa Bay in a three-team deal for starting pitcher Mike Burrows, who went to Houston.
- Jan. 8, 2026—Signed 32-year-old First Baseman/Outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, an All-Star who hit .281 with 17 dingers last season, to a 2-year deal worth $29 million.
- Feb. 9, 2026—Signed 35-year-old Outfielder/DH Marcell Ozuna, who slugged 79 homers over a two-year stretch for Atlanta (’23-’24), to a 1-year deal for $12 million.
The Pirates also made offers to high-profile bombers Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Eugenio Suarez (Reds) and Japanese Third Baseman Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays).
Cherington’s work isn’t finished. He’s rumored to be shopping for a power-hitting third baseman and a back-of-the rotation starter, preferably a lefty like former Bucco Tyler Anderson. To that end, he invited Jose Urquidy and Mike Clevinger, former established starters derailed by arm issues, to camp on a non-roster basis.
As for third sackers? Trade targets are said to include Mets sluggers Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and the Astros Isaac Paredes. Catcher Joey Bart and lefty pitching prospect Hunter Barco could be in play on our end.
Whew! That’s a lot to digest. The net effect? Cherington added three power bats (Garcia, Lowe and Ozuna), a solid, professional hitter in O’Hearn and a capable reserve outfielder in Mangum. Adding considerable pop to a lineup that finished dead last in the majors in homers, runs, runs batted in, slugging and OPS last season.
It’s conceivable the Bucs could boast as many as four 20-plus homer guys, including Lowe and Ozuna and holdovers Brian Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. If the latter ever harnesses his incredible natural gifts, the sky could indeed be the limit.
In addition, O’Hearn and First Baseman Spencer Horwitz could be good for 15-20 dingers.
The biggest hole is on the left side of the infield, where former first-rounder Mike Gonzales and Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo are expected to anchor short and third, respectively. Neither has displayed a consistent bat at the big-league level. Ideally, Triolo, who excels at any infield position, will fill a utility role.
Keep in mind that baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, is on the way and may well take over at short before the summer’s out, if not sooner. Potentially adding not only another power bat to the mix, but a base-stealing threat as well. He’s a five-tool gem…basically the everyday equivalent of Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
Garcia and fellow power-hitting outfield prospect Emerlyn Valdez, the recipient of the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year award, could emerge as well. If Bart is dealt, Rafael Flores—acquired from the Yankees in last summer’s Jared Bednar swap and yet another potential power bat—could share the catching duties with hard-working Skenes caddy Henry Davis.
Led by the incomparable Skenes and veteran workhorse Mitch Keller, the starting rotation is talented but a touch green, featuring the likes of up-and-comers Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft. If a suitable veteran isn’t found, Barco could emerge as the fifth starter. As could hard-throwing Jared Jones, on the rebound from UCL internal brace surgery.
Lurking in the not-too-distant shadows? Flame-throwing righty Seth Hernandez, the club’s top pick in the ’25 draft.
The bullpen, anchored by the likes of Soto, crafty closer Dennis Santana, sneaky-fast Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence, who displayed a nearly unhittable slider last season before going on the shelf, could be very good.
The lone worrisome thread? Team defense. None of the newcomers is known for his glove. Neither are a number of incumbents. Hopefully, the Buccos will be able to outhit and outpitch their mistakes.
As for the coaching staff? I really like the work Pittsburgh-native Don Kelly did after taking over for Derek Shelton. The records, 59-65 under the former as opposed to 12-26 under the latter, pretty much say it all. New pitching coach Bill Murphy, lured away from the Astros, could be a difference-maker, too.
Barring any unforeseen or catastrophic injuries, I predict we’ll finish above .500 for the first time since 2018. In a scrambled NL Central, perhaps even compete for a wild-card spot.