MLB insider tags Pirates as one of the 'most improved' teams this offseason

Jared Bloom

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MLB insider tags Pirates as one of the 'most improved' teams this offseason image

While the Pittsburgh Pirates were an exciting team to watch last season, it did not result in too many wins. They finished with a 71-91 record, which was good for last place in the NL Central. 

With Paul Skenes as their ace, they have playoff aspirations. They have not made the postseason since the 2015 season, and the fanbase is ready for that to come to a close. 

So, Pittsburgh has been kept plenty busy this offseason. They have made several moves to potentially put together a better product on the field for the 2026 season. 

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MLB insider tags Pirates as one of the 'most improved' clubs this offseason 

Pittsburgh has not made too many headlining moves, but they have made some smart moves to help fill holes for the upcoming season. They acquired Brandon Lowe in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, signed Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal, and acquired the Cincinnati Reds' top outfield prospect, Jhostynxon Garcia. 

With this, The Athletic's Jim Bowden ranks the Pirates as the second most-improved club so far this offseason. 

"The Pirates' offense looks much more competitive than it did at the end of last season and they appear to be going from pretender to contender thanks to the solid work of their GM."

On top of that, Pittsburgh also has an elite farm system of players waiting to make a name for themselves in the big leagues. Konnor Griffin sits atop the MLB prospect rankings and could see the field at some point in 2026 for his MLB debut. 

While Pittsburgh has not been a team to pay attention to over the last few years, that could all change this upcoming season. They have made moves to fill holes and could be in store for one of their best seasons in quite some time.

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