The Pittsburgh Pirates have made strides this offseason-no question about it. But let’s not confuse progress with arrival.
Yes, they’re better than they were a year ago, but when the bar was practically underground, clearing it doesn’t exactly call for fireworks. The additions of Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe bring some much-needed veteran presence to the lineup, but if that’s the extent of Pittsburgh’s positional upgrades, the team is still a few bats short of a real contender.
The NL Central is in flux, but that doesn’t mean it’s wide open. The Cubs have made it clear they’re not planning to sit back and watch.
With Edward Cabrera on the mound and Alex Bregman now anchoring the infield, Chicago looks like a team ready to make noise. And Milwaukee?
They’re still Milwaukee-steady, deep, and dangerous. That’s your top tier in the division.
So where does that leave the Pirates? Not in the basement anymore, sure.
But they’re still looking up at the Reds, and they haven’t exactly closed the gap on the division’s heavyweights. The talent upgrade is real-but so is the distance they still need to cover.
To his credit, GM Ben Cherington seems to get that. In a recent interview on MLB Network Radio, he acknowledged the need for more reinforcements.
He said the club is still looking to add a starting pitcher, a reliever, and another position player before the offseason wraps. That’s a realistic take-and one that aligns with what this roster still lacks.
Cherington also pointed to the left side of the infield as an area that could use a boost. That’s a fair assessment. But then the conversation turned to Jared Triolo, and that’s where things got a little too optimistic.
“We’ve got Triolo, who took a step forward, and we have a lot of confidence in Tri whether it’s at short, or third, or in a multi-position role,” Cherington said.
There’s no denying Triolo’s glove. Defensively, he brings Gold Glove-caliber value, and that alone gives him a place on a big-league roster.
But the bat? That’s still a work in progress.
In 2025, Triolo hit .227/.311/.356 with an 86 wRC+. Yes, that’s an improvement from the 72 wRC+ he posted in 2024, but it’s still well below league average.
And at 28 years old, it’s fair to wonder if there’s much more growth left in the bat.
If the Pirates had a lineup stacked with offensive firepower, you could carry a glove-first guy like Triolo in an everyday role. But that’s not the case here.
O’Hearn and Lowe are solid pieces, but they’re not going to carry an offense. This team doesn’t have a true middle-of-the-order force, which means the supporting cast has to do more than just support-they have to produce.
That puts a spotlight on every spot in the lineup, and it doesn’t leave a lot of margin for light-hitting regulars.
A utility role makes a lot more sense for Triolo. He’s versatile, he defends at a high level, and he can be a valuable piece off the bench or in a rotation.
But penciling him in as a starter on the left side of the infield? That’s a tough sell if the Pirates are serious about contending.
There’s still time to make a move, and one name that makes a lot of sense is Eugenio Suárez. He’s not a franchise changer at this point in his career, but he brings legit power and a proven track record.
At 34, he’s not the long-term answer, but he could be the right-now solution. Adding Suárez wouldn’t just improve the lineup-it would also allow Triolo to slide into a role that better suits his strengths.
Whether the Pirates go that route remains to be seen. Maybe they’re still working the phones.
Maybe they’re hoping Triolo surprises everyone. But if they want to take the next step-and not just another baby step-they’ll need to add more than optimism to the left side of the infield.