As spring training looms, there’s a different kind of energy surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates - and for once, it’s not just cautious optimism. It’s real.
Tangible. You can feel it in the moves they’ve made, the talent they’ve assembled, and the direction this franchise is finally heading.
Let’s start with the headline: the Pirates might just have the best pitcher and the best prospect in baseball. That’s not hyperbole - that’s Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin.
Skenes, the flamethrower who’s already turning heads with his big-league-ready stuff, is poised to anchor a young, electric rotation. Griffin, the shortstop phenom, hasn’t even set foot on a major league field yet, but his ceiling is sky-high, and his arrival feels more like a “when,” not “if.”
But what’s really turning heads this offseason is what the front office did to back up that young core. For years, Pirates fans have been asking for a sign - any sign - that the organization is serious about winning. This winter, they got it.
Pittsburgh went out and made moves. Real ones.
They brought in second baseman Brandon Lowe, a proven bat with postseason experience. They traded for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, a high-upside player with tools to burn.
And they didn’t stop there - they landed Ryan O’Hearn with the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history. That’s not just filling holes.
That’s building a lineup that can support a potentially elite rotation and finally give this team a fighting chance.
The moves didn’t go unnoticed. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden handed the Pirates an A- for their offseason efforts, praising the club for its aggressive approach in upgrading the offense. He highlighted the additions of Lowe, Garcia, and O’Hearn as key pieces that could finally bring balance to a team that’s long struggled to score runs despite developing strong pitching talent.
It’s a fair assessment. For years, the Pirates have had arms - now, they might finally have the bats to match. That’s a dangerous combination in today’s game, especially in a division that’s still wide open.
But here’s where things get complicated. While the offseason moves are a step forward, Bowden still projects Pittsburgh to finish fourth in the NL Central. That might sound like a letdown, but considering the Pirates are coming off back-to-back last-place finishes, it’s actually progress - and a sign that this team is turning the corner.
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that the Pirates haven’t made the playoffs since 2015. That’s a long drought.
But this offseason feels different. It feels like a team that’s done waiting for prospects to pan out and is finally ready to make a push.
Ben Cherington’s blueprint is starting to take shape. He’s built a foundation of young, controllable pitching.
He’s added veteran bats to lengthen the lineup. And with Konnor Griffin waiting in the wings, there’s even more upside on the horizon.
Will it be enough to get the Pirates back to October? That remains to be seen. But what’s clear is this: for the first time in a long time, Pittsburgh is playing to win - not just in the future, but right now.
And for Pirates fans, that’s reason enough to be excited.