Pirates' Offseason To-Do List: Fix Left-Handed Pitching Woes and Rotation
The Pittsburgh Pirates face an offseason of adjustments after likely missing the playoffs for an 11th straight year. Their offense struggles against left-handed pitching, with a collective wRC+ of 86, and the starting rotation has underperformed with a 4.34 ERA. The team must address these weaknesses to contend in 2027.
The Pirates' defensive struggles extend across multiple positions, with five regulars posting negative metrics in both Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved. This defensive deficiency helps explain the gap between the team's 4.24 ERA and 3.89 FIP, suggesting pitchers are performing better than results indicate. The club's aggressive trade deadline approach, adding four right-handed relievers, failed to spark a late-season push.
Pittsburgh's rotation issues are compounded by health concerns. Keller's teres major injury ended his season after 115 2/3 innings, while Jones continues building back from Tommy John surgery. Skenes, the reigning Cy Young winner, has seen his ERA climb to 3.97, well above his award-winning standard. The team must decide whether internal development or external acquisitions will stabilize the starting five.
This story may affect Pirates fans who have endured over a decade without postseason baseball, potentially influencing attendance and local economic activity around PNC Park. The team's front office decisions this winter could shape competitive timelines, with young pitchers like Skenes and Chandler representing both hope and pressure. Broader MLB observers may watch how Pittsburgh balances developing homegrown talent against acquiring proven veterans, a dynamic that could serve as a case study for small-market franchises navigating similar rebuilds.