The Pirates have done some major remodeling to their roster this winter via free agency (first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, reliever Gregory Soto) and the trade market (second baseman Brandon Lowe, Top 100 prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, among others).
What’s left for the Bucs to do this offseason? General manager Ben Cherington addressed that topic Sunday during an interview on MLB Network Radio.
“Ideally, we would add in some form to both the starting pitching group and the bullpen group, and also at least one more position player,” he said.
That position player could be an outfielder, but Cherington indicated that there’s more interest in adding to the left side of the infield. Jared Triolo, who had a solid final couple of months to end the 2025 season, seems likely to man either third base or shortstop. Nick Gonzales is another option at shortstop, as is, in Cherington’s words, “a really good younger prospect that we’re excited about.”
That would be 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, the No. 1 prospect in MLB. He is expected to get plenty of playing time during Spring Training and could make Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster.
The Pirates have also checked in on free-agent third basemen Eugenio Suárez and Yoán Moncada.
On the pitching side, the Pirates have room for another starter behind Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft and No. 14 overall prospect Bubba Chandler. Skenes and Keller are the only starters on the roster who have thrown 140 innings in a season. Jared Jones, who showed flashes of brilliance during his 2024 debut season, should be available at some point in 2026 after undergoing season-ending right elbow surgery in May.
The Pirates have been in contact with free agents Jose Quintana and Tyler Anderson. Both of them can provide something Pittsburgh’s current rotation lacks: a left-hander with veteran presence.
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