The Pittsburgh Pirates have already taken one big step forward offensively, but the next leap still has to come from outside the current roster. If they want their lineup to be better in 2027, the offseason is where that work gets done.
One possible fit is Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado, a name that checks a lot of boxes for Pittsburgh. He brings defense at third, right-handed power and the kind of veteran presence teams lean on when they want structure in the middle of the order.
Arenado’s reputation has long been built on his glove. He won 10 straight Gold Glove Awards from 2013-22, and even though last season wasn’t his sharpest defensively - -4 defensive runs saved and +2 outs above average - he has been solid in that area in prior years.
The bat, though, picked up in 2026. Arenado hit .255/.331/.475 for an .806 OPS in 152 games, with 136 hits, 25 doubles, 30 home runs and 86 RBI.
That marked his first .800 OPS and 30-homer season since 2022, and it was a major rebound from his 2025 line with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he hit .237/.289/.377 for a .666 OPS.
That kind of production would matter in Pittsburgh because the Pirates don’t have a clean answer at third base. Nick Gonzales was the main option in 2026, while Jared Triolo, Nick Yorke and Jacob Gonzalez also factored in.
Gonzales had the best year at the plate of that group, finishing with the sixth-best batting average in baseball at .304. But the power never came with it - he hit only six home runs - and the defense was rough, with his -15 DRS and -11 OAA both the worst marks among third basemen in 2026, minimum 850 innings played.
Triolo offers the opposite profile. He, like Arenado, has won a Gold Glove and can really defend, but the offense lagged badly, as he hit .238/.307/.302 for a .609 OPS in 2026. Yorke and Gonzales are not natural third basemen and were poor offensively, which makes Arenado look like the far cleaner solution.
There’s another layer to his appeal: he hit lefties extremely well. In 2026, Arenado batted .271/.344/.550 for an .894 OPS against left-handed pitching, with 38 hits, nine doubles, 10 home runs, 24 RBI and 16 walks to 30 strikeouts. That matters for a Pirates team that was 18-33 against lefty starters and needs to do a better job in that split.
The financial piece is a little unusual. Arenado is 35 now and will turn 36 next April, and he’s in the final year of his contract before free agency. He’ll make $15 million in 2027, with the Cardinals covering $9 million and the Diamondbacks responsible for $6 million.
Arizona owner Ken Kendrick has said the club will lower payroll for 2027, so the Diamondbacks could look for ways to move salary. If they decide to shed Arenado’s $6 million obligation, that opens the door for Pittsburgh or another team to get involved.
But there’s a catch. Arenado holds a no-trade clause, and that’s the biggest obstacle for any possible deal. He previously blocked a trade to the Houston Astros before the 2025 season, then waived it for Arizona, which is closer to his home of Orange County, Calif.
The Pirates do have pieces Arizona could want, including starting pitching depth and some intriguing prospects further down the system. A deal would likely require one of Hunter Barco, Khristian Curtis, Wilber Dotel and/or Antwone Kelly, plus a higher prospect or an established major leaguer.
If Arizona is willing to move Arenado and Arenado is willing to come to Pittsburgh, the Pirates should take the conversation seriously.
In Other News...
Bob Nutting Could Finally Face Pressure To Spend More
Labor talks across baseball have started to carry a real edge, and for the Pirates the issue goes well beyond the usual winter posture. Owners have proposed a sweeping new economic structure in the next collective bargaining agreement, including a salary cap and a payroll floor tied to 2027. For Pittsburgh, a club that has long operated well below the spending levels of the sports upper tier, the conversation cuts straight to the franchises long-running identity under Bob Nutting.
The Pirates are among the teams that would be most affected if the owners get their way, because the proposal would force low-payroll clubs to move meaningfully upward. The MLB Players Association is pushing back hard against the overhaul, and the sides have already drifted close enough to another potential work stoppage that every financial wrinkle matters. For Nutting, this could be the rare moment when baseballs labor fight creates pressure from outside the usual fan frustration, and it may finally put spending where Pittsburgh supporters have wanted it for years. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Offseason Help Could Be Hiding In These Playoff Runs
The Pirates are already looking ahead after missing the 2026 postseason, and some of the help they need might still be playing meaningful baseball elsewhere this month. With the offseason beginning to take shape, the club is weighing ways to bolster its 2027 roster by targeting players on teams still alive in the playoffs, a group that includes pitching and lineup depth they could use right away.
Among the names being watched are Brewers left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, who has been effective in recent work, and Guardians outfielder Victor Adell, whose situation would require a trade. Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia is also in the mix as a free-agent arm, though any pursuit would likely come with a price tag that stretches beyond Pittsburghs usual spending range, leaving the Pirates to decide how aggressive they want to be while those playoff runs continue. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Suddenly Face A Tough David Bednar Decision
The Pirates bullpen picture has changed enough that an old familiar name suddenly looks like a luxury rather than an obvious fit. David Bednar has rebuilt his value in New York by handling the ninth inning well, and his recent form is the kind that gets attention from teams looking for proven back-end help. For Pittsburgh, though, the question is no longer just about whether Bednar can pitch. It is about whether paying to bring him back would still make sense with other internal options already pushing their way into meaningful late-game roles.
Mason Montgomery has become part of that conversation by putting together a strong season and earning National League Reliever of the Month honors, a sign the Pirates may already have a closer-in-waiting on hand. That makes the Bednar pursuit a tricky call, because he would not come cheap and the clock is also tied to his future team control. Pittsburgh has to balance the comfort of a known commodity against the value of staying patient with a pitcher who has already shown he can finish games. [Read more 🡒]