Pirates offseason plans

It seems to me, esp this off season, Pirates are trending in the right direction.
Hopefully, I can be excited for more than a week after season starts!
Let’s go Buccos!
Still need a 3b

 

+7


As of late January 2026, the Pittsburgh Pirates are actively seeking to upgrade at third base
, with free agent Eugenio Suárezidentified as a primary target to add needed power. While Jared Triolo is currently slated as the primary option, the team continues to explore external upgrades, including potential trade targets like Alec Bohm.

• Top Target: The Pirates have shown strong interest in veteran slugger Eugenio Suárez to improve their home run output.
• Current Option: Jared Triolo is viewed as the primary option if the season started today.
• Market & Options: The club is monitoring options after missing out on Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and seeing Yoán Moncada re-sign with the Angels.
• Trade Possibilities: Beyond free agency, the team has been linked to potential trade candidates, including Alec Bohm (Phillies) and Lenyn Sosa (White Sox).
• Offseason Outlook: General Manager Ben Cherington noted the team remains aggressive in pursuing offensive upgrades to improve on their 2025 performance.
• Really wanted Okamato

 

Of course, they made noise about the signing, then lost Suarez to the Reds. It's not as if they gave him some massive contract. Saurez got $15 for one season. This was the Pirates being cheap, as usual.

 

Darn it man!
You think it was the Pirates or Suarez preferred the big red machine?
Sucks

 

A few extra million can often change a player's mind, but the Pirates won't do that. Decades of futility, which are caused by poor ownership, also made it hard for the Pirates to win battles for players like that one.

Suarez has his flaws, but he would have been a huge upgrade over Triolo.

 

https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/pittsburgh-pirates-trade-targets-third-base-eugenio-suarez/
The search continues for a 3b

 

The first guy on that list, Brendan Donovan, has since been traded to the Mariners.

 

I see they also lost out on SP Framber Valdez… went to Detroit
Would’ve been a nice addition to the pitching staff

 

There is no way the Pirates were spending that kind of money.

Suarez's contract wasn't outlandish. He got $15 million for one year from the Reds. The Pirates probably would have had to overpay to get him, but even something like $17 million would probably have done the trick, but Nutting doesn't care about winning, so no way he was going to allow it.

 

I thought maybe this offseason they were going to go all in… wrong again
Developing young talent to go and win elsewhere

 

I just don't understand why anyone would believe the Pirates will ever go all in. Nutting is not going to ever let them spend like that.

 

No third baseman, but they did add a DH, which severely limits their lineup flexibility. They gave Marcell Ozuna a one-year, $12 million contract. That pushes O'Hearn to corner outfield spot, which isn't great, but Ozuna's power should help.

Ozuna comes with a great deal of risk. He is 35 and he has been quite erratic throughout his career. I will give the Pirates credit for their best offseason in a while, but that's a very low bar.

 

The Pirates will never be able to out-spend the Dodgers or Mets. Even the Braves are doing some extra nowadays. It's tough. A lot like my Royals, just can't compete with spending. Have to draft well, and have strong farms. Even that doesn't pay out every time. We drafted Asa Lacy in the 1st a few years back. I think he's been in surgery since draft day.

 

Need a third baseman
Let’s get another outfielder
Hopefully he still has some juice in his lemon