This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.
The Scorching Range season might be underway by the point subsequent week’s e-newsletter rolls round. As we put together for the winter, this article ought to assist reply some questions Pirates followers might need.
Which gamers are free brokers?After a busy Commerce Deadline and a few waiver strikes in August, the Pirates’ pending free brokers are Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham. That is the third straight winter that McCutchen might be a free agent after a one-year deal, nevertheless it’s not a forgone assure that he might be again in 2026.
“We’ll see what occurs,” McCutchen stated about his future after the staff’s ultimate residence recreation on Sept. 21. “Clearly a variety of that stuff is out of my management, so I simply have to do my half. I do wish to proceed enjoying, wherever which may be. I’m wanting ahead to seeing the place the offseason takes me.”
No matter his future, the percentages of McCutchen receiving a qualifying supply (a one-year deal for $22.025 million this offseason) are successfully zero. League-wide, the deadline to increase a qualifying supply is 5 days after the final recreation of the World Sequence.
What roster choices will Pittsburgh must make?The Pirates do not need any membership or participant choices to fret about this winter, however there are nonetheless some questions that they’re going to wish to reply.
The opposite two are Colin Holderman and Jack Suwinski. A pair years in the past, they appeared like a possible setup man and middle-of-the-order nook outfielder, respectively, however this was a fairly depressing yr for each. Holderman completed with a 7.01 ERA in 25 2/3 Main League innings, whereas Suwinski has been value -2.1 wins above alternative in 147 video games for the reason that begin of the 2024 season, in line with Baseball Reference, hitting simply .169 with a .568 OPS.
Bullpen and nook outfield upgrades are on the Pirates’ purchasing record this winter, and if Holderman and Suwinski bounced again, it might be an enormous increase to the roster. That’s a really large “if,” although. Each had a tough finish to their respective 2024 seasons, and issues didn’t get higher in 2025. It may not be value taking that gamble once more in 2026.
The non-tender deadline is about for Nov. 21.
Pittsburgh can also be going to must resolve if it needs to guard a few of its prospects from the Rule 5 Draft.
Esmerlyn Valdez (No. 15 on MLB Pipeline’s rating of the group’s high prospects) looks as if a shoo-in to be added to the roster, particularly after his stupendous exhibiting within the Arizona Fall League up to now, homering eight instances. Catcher Omar Alfonzo (No. 19), third baseman Jack Brannigan (No. 21), left-hander Anthony Solometo (No. 25) and righty Wilber Dotel (No. 28) are additionally Rule 5 eligible. Among the many gamers not on the Prime 30 record, right-hander Antwone Kelly touches 100 mph as a starter and had a 3.02 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 107 1/3 innings between Excessive-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. On this reporter’s opinion, he is likely to be essentially the most engaging Rule 5 candidate pitcher the Pirates have.
There must be a number of spots open, however Pittsburgh clearly can’t add a half-dozen gamers to the roster who’ve but to play above Double-A. The deadline to guard Rule 5-eligible gamers is Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. ET.
What strikes may occur?Count on Mitch Keller to be one of many central figures in any pitching commerce discuss. I went into that right here. Bart’s title got here up in talks on the Deadline, so he may very well be a commerce candidate, too. Santana has just one yr of staff management remaining, and the Pirates typically choose to commerce their closers somewhat than allow them to stroll in free company. That doesn’t imply something will occur this winter, although.
However the focus this offseason must be including to the membership greater than subtracting or dealing from it. Pittsburgh desperately wants assist in the nook outfield and the left facet of the infield, and including two or three gamers who match that invoice would go a great distance. The bullpen might use an infusion, and the rotation will want a veteran if the Pirates commerce Keller, however they want to enter subsequent yr with a minimum of two new starters between third base, shortstop and left subject. That must be the precedence.
