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Pittsburgh Pirates 2025 Season Recap & 2026 Offseason Outlook

The 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates season was defined by elite pitching, an anemic offense, and a midseason managerial change. Here’s a full recap and a projection of what’s next.

2025 Season Overview

The Pirates finished 71–91, fifth in the NL Central, missing the postseason for the 10th consecutive year. Despite an elite pitching staff, a lack of offensive production held the team back.

Team Summary

5th in NL Central | Record: 71–91 | MLB Rank: 5th in runs allowed, 1st in shutouts (19)

Pitching Highlights

• Paul Skenes led MLB with a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 216 strikeouts — making him a Cy Young contender.
• Mitch Keller provided durability with 176 innings but an ERA in the mid-4s.
• Braxton Ashcraft (2.71 ERA) and Mike Burrows (3.94 ERA) emerged as reliable starters.
• In total, the Pirates allowed the 5th fewest runs in MLB and led the league in shutouts.

Offensive Struggles

• Ranked last in MLB in runs scored with just 583 total.
• Lowest home run total and OPS in the league.
• Set a record for most consecutive games scoring 4 or fewer runs.
• Spencer Horwitz (.272, 11 HR) was a rare bright spot in an otherwise stagnant lineup.

Managerial & Front Office Moves

• Manager Derek Shelton was fired on May 8 after a 12–26 start.
• Don Kelly served as interim manager, finishing 59–65.
• Pitching coach Oscar Marin and several assistants were dismissed after the season.

The Pirates’ pitching depth provides hope for the future, but unless the offense improves dramatically, the club risks another season near the bottom of the division.

Projected Pittsburgh Pirates — 2026 Offseason Plan

A concise projection of likely roster moves, constraints, and targets for the Pirates’ 2026 offseason based on strengths (pitching), weaknesses (offense), and payroll realities.

Key Constraints & Assets

Assets:

• Strong young pitching core and a top-10 farm system for arms (prospects like Bubba Chandler, Wilber Dotel, etc.).
• High-end pitching prospect depth that can be used to either promote internally or as trade chips.

Constraints:

• Payroll is expected to remain tightly controlled — limited ability to sign large multi-year contracts.
• Offense was a major weakness in 2025 (runs, power, OPS), so upgrades are necessary but likely cost-sensitive.

Possible Offseason Moves (Overview)

Type of Move	What They Might Do	Examples / Targets	Why It Fits / Challenges
Free-Agent Signings / One-Year Deals	Add 1–2 veteran bats (right-handed middle-of-order, DH-ish corner bat).	Marcell Ozuna; mid-tier power bats like Kyle Schwarber or Michael Conforto (shorter deals).	Plugs offensive holes on low-risk deals. Challenge: true power bats often want longer/more $.
Trade Market	Use pitching depth or low-cost pieces to acquire offense; possibly package prospects for a proven bat.	Corner OF/1B from a team rebalancing roster (specific names depend on teams’ needs).	Can deliver immediate offense but risks trading high-upside prospects.
Internal Promotions	Promote high-upside hitters from the minors (Konnor Griffin, Edward Florentino, Termarr Johnson).	Konnor Griffin as a starting bat if MLB-ready; other young bats as platoon/rotation options.	Cost-efficient and sustainable, but young hitters can struggle in the bigs initially.
Retain Key Pitchers / Core	Keep the pitching core intact (Skenes, Chandler, Ashcraft) and avoid trading too many arms.	Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, other rotation/bullpen pieces.	Maintains rotation strength. Challenge: balancing short-term competitiveness vs long-term roster building.
Coaching / Development	Invest in hitting coaches, development staff, and data/plate-approach programs.	Hire a hitting coach with a proven turnaround track record; expand hitting-development resources.	Less costly than big free-agent signings and can yield measurable improvement; impact may be gradual.

 

Potential Targets

Players who fit the Pirates’ likely budget/profile (speculative):

Marcell Ozuna

Veteran power, OBP boost, leadership. Fits one-year/short deals if market aligns.

Kyle Schwarber

High-power bat; could be a fit on a short-term deal after a down year.

Michael Conforto

Floor of a steady left-handed bat with on-base skills; possible shorter contract.

Utility / Depth Targets

Versatile hitters who can play multiple positions and provide occasional pop and defense.

Also consider a mid-tier catching upgrade and bench pieces who can hit right-handed power.

Timeline & Priorities

1. Scouting & Development — Decide which prospects (Griffin, Chandler, others) are MLB-ready for 2026.
2. Free-Agent Monitoring — Target one value bat early in the offseason; prioritize short-term, low-risk deals.
3. Trade Consideration — If a realistic bat is available, consider trading from pitching depth; be careful not to mortgaging the future.
4. Payroll Allocation — Keep payroll controlled: likely small/medium contracts and targeted coaching hires.

Final Outlook

The Pirates’ 2026 offseason is likely to be pragmatic: preserve and build around elite pitching while pursuing affordable, short-term offensive upgrades and promoting internal talent. The ideal path is a low-cost veteran bat or two, a stronger hitting-development staff, and careful use of prospects in any trade so that the rotation remains a long-term strength.