The Pittsburgh Pirates have reached the point where the conversation has changed. After a 2026 season that ended in disappointment but still showed real progress, the focus now turns to 2027 - and ESPN’s early power rankings have already put Pittsburgh at No. 9.
That ranking comes with a clear message: the Pirates are no longer being treated like a team simply trying to take a step forward. They’re being measured like a club that should be chasing the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield pointed to the size of the leap in 2026, when Pittsburgh finished sixth in the majors in runs scored after ranking last in 2025, as a major reason for optimism. He wrote, "One of the most shocking results of 2026 was the Pirates finishing sixth in the majors in runs scored after ranking last in 2025.
That helped lead to an 11-win improvement, and while you might normally pencil in regression, that won’t necessarily be the case. Konnor Griffin has the tools to explode in his sophomore season while Esmerlyn Valdez slugged .510 with 17 home runs in half a season."
Griffin and Valdez are central to the buzz around this team. Griffin was among the Pirates whose seasons were disrupted by injuries, while Valdez didn’t become a regular in Pittsburgh’s lineup until June. Even so, both young hitters were enough to get Schoenfield’s attention, and the idea is obvious: if they turn in full seasons, the lineup could take another jump.
The same kind of optimism extends to the pitching side. Schoenfield expects Paul Skenes to bounce back, sees a leap coming from Bubba Chandler, and believes a full season from Jared Jones should give the rotation another boost. Pittsburgh’s farm system could keep feeding the big league club, too, with Seth Hernandez and Murf Gray emerging as the next blue-chip names on the way up.
But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one: the Pirates can’t just sit back and wait for all of that to happen on its own. Development is messy, and the source of the team’s hope is also the reason for caution.
Griffin might not fully unlock the power everyone expects. Valdez could run into the same whiff issues.
Hernandez could stall in the upper minors. Young players don’t move in a straight line, and one rough stretch can change the shape of a season fast.
That’s why the offseason matters so much. Ben Cherington can’t count on internal growth alone. The roster still has obvious needs, including the bullpen and catcher, and the Pirates would be making a mistake if they let Brandon Lowe walk or ignored the need for a veteran lefty in the rotation just because the system is loaded with young pitching.
There’s also the reality of how Pittsburgh has operated in November. The Pirates haven’t signed a major league free agent or made a player-for-player trade in the month of November since 2022, and they have a poor history of landing free agents late. Alex Stumpf summed up the urgency this way: "If they want to make the playoffs, they should make moves soon."
That’s the pressure now. The Pirates have talent, rising expectations, and a chance to turn a promising step forward into something much bigger. But if they lean too hard on youth and don’t add enough help around it, 2027 could go from exciting to frustrating in a hurry.
In Other News...
Pirates Suddenly Have A Middle Infield Question They Can't Ignore
Injuries have already pushed the Pirates to think harder about the middle of the diamond, with rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin among the players who have complicated the picture in 2026. Pittsburghs depth there is suddenly a real issue, and it is the kind of problem that can force a front office to look beyond internal options if it wants to keep the infield stable through the season.
One avenue worth watching is Miami, where Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards have surfaced as possible trade fits for the Pirates. Both bring a mix of offensive and defensive value that would make sense for a club trying to shore up the position group, especially with uncertainty hanging over Brandon Lowes future in Pittsburgh. The Marlins are not actively shopping either infielder, but they also do not appear to view them as untouchable, which is enough to keep this possibility alive as the Pirates weigh their next move. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Linked To A Brewers Bullpen Piece They Clearly Need
The Pirates are already being tied to bullpen help this winter, and JoJo Romero has surfaced as a name worth watching. MLB Trade Rumors pegged the left-handed reliever as a potential free-agent fit for Pittsburgh, pointing to the kind of relief upgrade the club has been searching for as it tries to strengthen a group that needs more stability heading into 2027.
Romeros appeal is easy to see from the Pirates side. He just played a meaningful role in Milwaukees championship run, and a pitcher with that kind of late-season track record fits the profile of someone who could slide into a useful leverage spot in Pittsburgh. The question now is whether the Pirates will be willing to move quickly enough to turn that interest into a real addition. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Need To Pay For The Bullpen Arm Theyre Missing
The Pirates have spent the winter talking like a club that wants to do more than merely patch holes, and the bullpen is one of the places where that ambition could show up first. As they map out improvements for the 2027 season, one name has surfaced as a possible fit: Bryan Abreu, a right-hander who has spent the last eight seasons in Houston and has put together a strong stretch from 2022 through 2025. His previous work with Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy only adds to the appeal, since familiarity can matter when a team is trying to make a targeted upgrade.
The catch is that this kind of bullpen help may not come cheaply. Projections for Abreu point to a deal in the neighborhood of $10.5 million per year, whether that comes on a shorter commitment or something a little longer, and Pittsburgh is expected to carry a record Opening Day payroll as it tries to push toward the postseason. In other words, if the Pirates want the sort of arm they believe they are missing, they may have to spend like a club that is serious about closing the gap. [Read more 🡒]