The Pittsburgh Pirates had a resurgent season in 2024 on the again of a younger pitching workers. Rookie Paul Skenes led the best way with a Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign and opened the workforce’s aggressive window. However a gradual offseason with none notable additions has followers livid once more. At a latest fan fest, one Pirates fan referred to as for proprietor Bob Nutting to promote the workforce, amid his notable absence. CEO Travis Williams shot that concept down, per ESPN.
“To reply your speedy query that you just stated earlier, Bob shouldn’t be going to promote the workforce,” Williams stated. “He cares about Pittsburgh, he cares about profitable, he cares about us placing a profitable product on the sector, and we’re working in direction of that each day.”
Nutting has owned the Pirates since 2007, 18 years with solely three playoff appearances. They may not maintain stars like Gerrit Cole and fell out of rivalry shortly. Whereas they’ve drafted nicely and developed a number of strong professional gamers, it has not culminated in workforce success. With a star pitcher again on the workforce, followers desire a new boss to guide the Pirates.
However Williams has crushed any rumor about Nutting placing the workforce on the market. So contemplating their present scenario, how can the Pirates enhance for 2025?
Pirates should decide up offense this offseason
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The Pirates struggled offensively and couldn’t maintain their momentum going by way of the summer time. On July 31, they had been 55-53 and a couple of.5 video games out of the Wild Card race. They went 21-33 down the stretch, the worst within the Nationwide League, and completed 76-86. The offense was the explanation for that collapse and should be mounted this offseason.
Final offseason, a brand new pattern emerged in MLB free company. When Jack Flaherty couldn’t discover a long-term deal, he signed a one-year contract with the upstart Detroit Tigers. It labored for either side, though Flaherty nonetheless awaits one other long-term deal. If the Pirates can do this with a star offensive participant, it might assist them tremendously.
Probably the most life like possibility for the Pirates is Alex Verdugo, who struggled underneath the Bronx lights final season. With no qualifying supply from the Yankees, it might not price them any draft picks. And his market is gentle after a tricky season. But when he bounces again, it may very well be an excellent addition to the younger workforce.
The Pirates needs to be diving into the discount free-agents this offseason to assist their offense. With a particular pitching expertise like Skenes, they need to complement their roster with impactful bats.