There is no denying that the Pittsburgh Pirates struggled during the 2025 season. They had problems being consistent outside of Paul Skenes going deep into his starts.
They finished the regular season with a record of 71-91, missing the postseason. They have now missed the postseason for the last 10 seasons, and the fanbase would love for that to change.
Fortunately for them, the front office has been kept plenty busy so far this winter. They have made a couple of moves that some insiders are pretty high on.
MORE: MLB insider tags Pirates as one of the 'most improved' teams this offseason
Pirates' latest winter acquisitions lead to solid offseason grade
Pittsburgh has done its best to put together a better product on the field next season. They helped bolster their bullpen by signing Gregory Soto on a one-year, $7.75 million deal.
They also struck a deal with Ryan O'Hearn as an impact bat. However, many are excited about the trade involving Brandon Lowe.
Lowe headed to Pittsburgh alongside Jake Magnum and Mason Montgomery in a three-team trade involving the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays. If he can stay healthy in 2026, he could become a fan favorite.
With these moves, CBS Sports' Dayn Perry and Mike Axisa give the Pirates a "B-" so far for their offseason moves.
"Look, the Pirates probably haven't nudged themselves into contention, even given the low bar for relevance thanks to the expanded postseason field. However, they have taken steps to improve the lacking offense."
Pittsburgh is still a few pieces away from being a contender, but they are moving in the right direction. And there is still time for the club to add more players.
The club could use a right-handed power source. They could also use another high-leverage arm in the bullpen and a left-handed starting pitcher to pair with Paul Skenes.
More MLB news:
- Twins' poor offseason grade will certainly frustrate the fanbase
- Rockies receive high offseason praise despite lackluster deals
- White Sox receive huge praise for their offseason moves so far
- Athletics still have some work to do if they want to get their offseason grade up
- Cubs just landed a new pitcher, but it isn't Edward Cabrera