The Pittsburgh Pirates have taken some meaningful steps forward this offseason-but let’s be real: they’re not quite ready to crash the NL Central party just yet. There’s progress, sure, but also some clear gaps that still need filling. And right now, the most glaring hole is at third base.
GM Ben Cherington hasn’t shied away from that reality. He’s acknowledged the Pirates need help on the left side of the infield.
That’s in addition to seeking another starting pitcher, some bullpen reinforcement, and possibly another outfielder. It’s a tall order, especially when you’re working within a limited budget and trying to spread resources across multiple needs.
So where do the Pirates go from here? Third base is the pivot point.
It’s the spot that could unlock the rest of the offseason. Solve that, and the rest of the puzzle might come together.
But the options are thinning out fast.
Eugenio Suárez would be a strong short-term fit. He brings power and experience, but his price tag could handcuff the Pirates from making other necessary moves. After him, the free-agent pool drops off quickly-Yoán Moncada is the next name up, and beyond that, the market gets murky.
That leaves the trade route. But that’s no easy path either.
A potential target like Alec Bohm hinges on whether the Phillies can land Bo Bichette. If that deal drags out, Pittsburgh could be left watching as other third base options sign elsewhere, and the Bohm price tag creeps higher.
But here’s where things get interesting. Losing out on Kazuma Okamoto to the Blue Jays might’ve actually opened a door the Pirates didn’t see coming. Enter: Addison Barger.
When Toronto signed Okamoto, they effectively started pushing Barger out of the lineup. Both players can handle third base and the corner outfield spots, so there’s some positional overlap. Factor in that the Jays also have slick defenders like Andrés Giménez and Ernie Clement in the mix, and it’s hard to see where Barger fits long-term-especially if Toronto re-signs Bo Bichette, which they’re reportedly working hard to do.
That puts Barger in a bit of a squeeze. And for the Pirates, that could be the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.
Barger, 26, is no stranger to prospect hype. A sixth-round pick who’s worked his way up, he’s now logged just over 200 games in the big leagues and is under team control through 2030. That kind of controllability is gold for a team like Pittsburgh, which needs to build around a sustainable, affordable core.
He brings real thump from the left side of the plate. In 2025, Barger posted a 51% hard-hit rate-elite-level stuff-and his average exit velocity of 91.7 mph ranked in the 86th percentile.
His bat speed? Top 7% in the league.
That’s the kind of raw power you can dream on.
Sure, there’s some swing-and-miss in his game. That’s part of the package.
But even with the strikeouts, he still managed 21 homers and a .756 OPS last season. That’s a solid foundation to build on.
And when the lights got brighter in the postseason, Barger stepped up-slashing .367/.441/.583 with three home runs during Toronto’s World Series run. That’s a glimpse of what he can do when it matters most.
And here’s the kicker: Barger is still in his pre-arbitration years. That means the Pirates could potentially trade for him and still have the financial flexibility to go add a starting pitcher, a bullpen arm, and maybe even a bench bat-all without blowing up the budget.
So yes, missing out on Okamoto stung. But if it leads to the Pirates landing Barger-a player who fits their timeline, fills their biggest need, and still leaves room to upgrade elsewhere-this could be one of those rare offseason twists that ends up working out for the better.
Third base remains the priority. And if Pittsburgh can capitalize on Toronto’s roster crunch, Addison Barger might just be the right fit at the right time.