Pittsburgh Pirates News

Carmen Mlodzinski (3.95 ERA, 97 K, 123 IP in 2026) ranks No. 30 on MLBTR's top 40 offseason trade candidates. With a crowded rotation, he could be dealt for the offense Ben Cherington has yet to add. 🔄

Pirates' overlooked trade candidate could solve a problem Ben Cherington still hasn't addressed

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ESPN's way-too-early 2027 power rankings put the Pirates ninth, up from 13th at the end of 2026. The case: a top-six offense, a stronger rotation, and re-signing Brandon Lowe. Defense and bullpen still need work. 📈

Here’s where the Pirates stand in the offseason power rankings

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Ryan Weiss, whom the Astros declined an option on, is now a free agent. The Pirates could reunite him with new pitching coach Sean Buchanan, his Triple-A coach in Houston, giving Pittsburgh a possible inside track on a depth arm. 🎯

Pirates' latest coaching hire could give them an inside track on newly available Astros pitcher

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The Pirates released seven Dominican Summer League pitchers on Friday, two days after the Brewers won the World Series. Darlin Mejia, Albert Vega and Leudy Reyes were among them. Pure minor-league housekeeping, with no big-league names. 🧹

Pittsburgh Pirates Release 7 Players From Organization After World Series

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The Pirates released seven Dominican Summer League pitchers on Friday, just after the Brewers won the World Series. Darlin Mejia, Albert Vega and Leudy Reyes are among them. Offseason housekeeping, with all of it at the lowest rung of the system.

Pittsburgh Pirates Announce Release of 7 Players After World Series

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Brandon Lowe is the Pirates' most important free agent. Gleyber Torres, Jim Bowden's predicted fit at 2 years, $42M, would be a clear downgrade at second base. Coming off a 4.9 fWAR season, Lowe looks like the move to make. 🔒

Gleyber Torres free agency prediction reveals why Pirates can't afford to lose Brandon Lowe

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Paul Skenes went full Buddy the Elf for Halloween, spaghetti plate included, while Livvy Dunne matched as a Mrs. Butterworth's bottle. The Pirates ace closed 2026 with a 3.82 ERA and 200 strikeouts over 174.1 innings. Offseason mode: festive. 🎄

Pirates’ Paul Skenes, Livvy Dunne go with Christmas-themed costumes for Halloween this year

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Derek Diamond, the Pirates' Kent Tekulve Reliever of the Year, went 7-0 with a 2.48 ERA and 57 strikeouts to nine walks in 58 innings. He's Rule 5 eligible, so Pittsburgh must add him to the 40-man roster by Nov. 17 or risk losing him. ⏳

Pirates' award-winning pitching prospect could force an uncomfortable offseason decision

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Pirates offseason outlook: Brandon Lowe's free agency leaves a hole at second base, with Termarr Johnson an internal option. Pitching looks mostly set, though an extra reliever could make sense, and Gregory Soto is a free agent again. 🔍

What the Pirates Should Target During the 2026-27 Offseason

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Former Pirates slugger Josh Bell is officially a free agent and can sign with any MLB team this winter. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, finished another season outside the playoffs, closing with a 4-2 win over Detroit on September 27. 🔎

Ex-Pittsburgh Pirates Slugger Immediately Becomes Free Agent

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Seth Hernandez, the No. 1 prospect in PBN's Pirates Top 30, backs up the upside. The 2025 sixth overall pick went 3-0, 0.96 ERA at Low-A, then 3-1, 3.33 at High-A, before an oblique injury ended his year. He says he's 100% healthy. 🔥

Pirates Top Prospects No. 1: Seth Hernandez a Future Ace

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Pirates could target free-agent lefty Patrick Sandoval, a cheap buy-low option, as budget-conscious Ben Cherington juggles Brandon Lowe and other needs. Sandoval's 5.12 ERA over 70 1/3 innings with Boston hides better underlying metrics. 🎯

Red Sox free-agent hurler could give Pirates perfect buy-low candidate to bolster the rotation

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Esmerlyn Valdez has recovered from the hamstring strain that cut short his September and will play winter ball for Escogido. After a 17-homer rookie year, he hit just .121 with a 40% strikeout rate outside July, so 2027 plans can't assume he's arrived. 🔍

Pirates' latest Esmerlyn Valdez update comes with a troubling offensive reality

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Jim Bowden linked the Pirates to Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Daulton Varsho, Robbie Ray, Foster Griffin and Gregory Soto. Five are lefties, yet Pittsburgh went 18-33 against left-handed starters in 2026 and ranked last in MLB in AVG, OBP and SLG. 🤔

Jim Bowden's free-agent predictions expose Pirates' most glaring offseason contradiction

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Brandon Lowe ranks among the top free-agent bats, and Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly says the Pirates should extend him the $23.15M qualifying offer. Accept, and they keep a good player; decline, and they get a re-sign window or pick compensation. 🎯

Why Pirates need to re-sign Brandon Lowe

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Former Pirates two-time All-Star David Bednar elected free agency from the Yankees on Oct. 29. He posted a 2.47 ERA with 35 saves in 64 games this year, so the market for the ex-Pittsburgh closer should be busy. 🔒

2x Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Immediately Becomes Free Agent

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Pirates GM Ben Cherington says the club will focus on its own roster work while a lockout looms when the CBA expires Dec. 1. With a month between free agency and a possible freeze, he indicated Pittsburgh will be ready to act early, though he said it's a wait-and-see situation. ⏳

Pirates GM Ben Cherington Will Be Ready to Strike Early With Lockout Looming

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Pirates 1B prospect Tony Blanco Jr. (6-foot-7, 290) had his best year in 2026: 25 HR, .896 OPS in 84 games, mostly at High-A Greensboro. Raw power grades near the top of the minors; the next test is staying healthy after past hamstring injuries. 💪

With massive power and a lineman's build, Bucs prospect made big strides this season

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Mitch Keller said he never felt fully healthy in 2026, a year that ended with a teres major injury, a 5.29 ERA and a 6-8 record. With $38.8 million still owed through 2028, the Pirates' choice not to trade him now looks costlier. 💸

Pirates' Mitch Keller just admitted something that makes his $38.8 million future even more complicated

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Pirates could shop veterans this offseason, per one outlook. Mitch Keller (5.29 ERA, $18.4M in 2027) tops the list as a financial-flexibility play, while Carmen Mlodzinski's bullpen move and past comments could make him a different kind of trade candidate. 🔄

5 Veterans Pirates Could Consider Trading This Offseason

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