The Pirates know exactly where the lineup cracked last season, and the numbers make the problem impossible to ignore. Against left-handed pitching, especially left-handed starters, Pittsburgh was flat-out poor. The club went 18-33 in those games and finished with a .231/.303/.360 line for an OPS of .663 against left-handed starting pitchers.
That’s the kind of weakness that can shape an entire offseason, which is why Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo stands out as a possible fit. He wouldn’t solve every issue on his own, but his bat against southpaws would give Pittsburgh something it badly lacked.
Mayo was one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching in 2026. He posted a .322/.393/.712 line for an OPS of 1.105 in those matchups, collecting 47 hits in 147 at-bats with nine doubles, 16 home runs and 33 RBI in 83 games. His 16 home runs against lefties were tied for the most in baseball with Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson.
That kind of right-handed pop is exactly what the Pirates were missing. Rookie right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez led Pittsburgh with nine home runs against left-handed pitching, while second baseman Brandon Lowe was next with eight.
Overall, Mayo’s season was more uneven. In 132 games, he hit .228/.297/.461 with an OPS of .758, along with 94 hits, 18 doubles, 24 home runs and 63 RBI. Even so, those 24 homers would have led all Pirates third basemen by a wide margin; Pittsburgh’s group at the position combined for 15.
The fit goes beyond the bat. Mayo plays third base, and the Pirates need a real answer there.
Nick Gonzales hit well enough to finish with the sixth-best batting average in baseball at .303, but his defense was a problem. Jared Triolo brought the glove, but his offense fell short of what Pittsburgh needs from a starting third baseman, as he hit .238/.307/.302 for an OPS of .609.
Mayo isn’t a finished product in the field either. He struggled badly at third base in 2026, finishing with -9 defensive runs saved, -2 outs above average and -1 fielding run value. That’s not ideal, though it still compares more favorably than Gonzales, who posted -15 OAA, -11 DRS and -9 FRV.
There’s also a clear reason Baltimore could listen. According to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner, the Orioles are looking to upgrade their outfield and rotation and are listening to trades on almost anyone. Mayo is one of several third basemen in their mix, along with Blaze Alexander, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jordan Westburg, so he could be available at the right price.
The contract situation adds to the appeal for Pittsburgh. Mayo has four years of team control, with pre-arbitration in 2027 and arbitration from 2027-29, before reaching free agency in 2030. That kind of cost control would give the Pirates time to keep developing him into the hitter and third baseman they want.
His season also showed two very different versions of the same player. Mayo hit 12 home runs in both halves of 2026, but the production around those blasts changed a lot. He hit just .193/.264/.395 with an OPS of .659 in the first half, then bounced back to .270/.337/.540 with an OPS of .877 in the second half.
That split leaves Pittsburgh with a real question: was the second half the new baseline, or was the first half the version that will show up again in 2027?
The Pirates do have other third base options in free agency and on the trade market, but Mayo checks two boxes that matter most: he helps against left-handed pitching and gives them another right-handed power bat. Pittsburgh has the pieces to get something done, though it likely won’t happen before the impending lockout on Dec. 1.
In Other News...
Pirates Face A Costly Lefty Decision With Real Rotation Risk
The Pirates are still weighing how aggressively to chase left-handed rotation help, and Jim Bowdens latest list of potential starters underscores why the market could get expensive in a hurry. Robbie Ray and Foster Griffin both surfaced as options for Pittsburgh, giving the club two very different paths to consider as it tries to add stability to a staff that could use another arm from the left side.
Ray brings the name recognition and the upside of a former Cy Young winner, but the injury history and uneven recent performance make him a tricky bet. Griffin, meanwhile, offers a younger profile and a strong recent season after returning from Japan, which gives him a more practical appeal as the Pirates look for help that can hold up beyond just the short term. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face An Outfield Gamble That May Not Fix Their Biggest Flaw
As the Pirates look ahead to the 2026-27 offseason, Daulton Varsho has surfaced as one of several free-agent outfielders on their radar, a name that makes sense on paper for a club still trying to patch together more complete roster balance. A former Gold Glove winner, Varsho brings the kind of defensive reputation Pittsburgh tends to value, and the idea of adding a left-handed bat with center-field experience has obvious appeal for a team that has searched for more reliable production in the outfield.
The fit, though, is not as simple as the resume suggests. Varsho is coming off a disappointing 2026 season in which both his offense and defense slipped, and the Pirates would have to weigh whether he actually solves one of their biggest issues or just adds another layer of uncertainty to a lineup already struggling against left-handed pitching. Playing time would also be part of the equation, since Pittsburgh would need to sort out where he fits before any move like this starts to look like a clean upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face A Costly Rotation Question They Cant Ignore
The Pirates are already staring at a rotation picture that could be all right-handers by 2027, and that kind of imbalance is hard to ignore for a club trying to build something sustainable. Left-handed pitching depth is the obvious fix, which is why Trevor Rogers has surfaced as a name worth watching. He brings the kind of profile Pittsburgh could use, with recent performance that suggests real value if he stays healthy.
The question is whether the fit makes sense beyond the baseball case. Rogers comes with injury concerns, and the price tag attached to a pitcher of his caliber would force the Pirates to think carefully about payroll and long-term flexibility. For a team that has to pick its spots, this is the sort of decision that can shape not just the rotation, but the way the front office approaches the rest of the market. [Read more 🡒]