The Pittsburgh Pirates already took a real step forward in 2026, but one of the clearest ways to keep moving is by adding a player who can patch multiple holes at once. That is why Edmundo Sosa stands out as such a natural fit.
Sosa checks a lot of boxes the Pirates need. He can handle second base, third base and shortstop, and he has logged infield experience as well. Since 2021, he has been a reliable defensive presence at every one of those spots.
That matters because Pittsburgh’s infield picture is still cloudy. Konnor Griffin is in place at shortstop, and Ryan O'Hearn and Spencer Horwitz are at first base, but the rest of the group is unsettled.
Brandon Lowe is set to hit free agency, and if he leaves, the Pirates suddenly have a major opening at second base. They also need help at third base for 2027.
The fit gets even cleaner when you look at the bat. The Pirates badly need more right-handed production, especially against left-handed pitching, and Sosa has done that well.
In his career, he owns a .256/.306/.417 line with an OPS of .723, including an OPS above .700 in five of his six MLB seasons. Against left-handers, he has been better: .273/.326/.479 for an .806 OPS overall, and he hit .290/.343/.492 with an .835 OPS in 2026.
That kind of split would matter for a Pirates team that went just 18-33 against left-handed starting pitching last season. By comparison, they were 64-47 against right-handed starting pitching.
Pittsburgh is also a club that has to shop carefully. It operates like a small-market team, and that usually means looking for value instead of splashing around.
The Pirates are projected for a $100 million payroll in 2027, though that number could climb quickly if they bring back Lowe or pursue other free agents. Under owner Bob Nutting, though, they have consistently carried one of the lowest payrolls in the game.
That is part of what makes Sosa so appealing. At 30, he should not be looking for a deal the Pirates would balk at, and a contract in the $6-$8 million range would make sense for both sides.
The Pirates also have internal uncertainty behind Lowe. Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo are the most realistic options if the position opens up, while Jacob Gonzalez and Nick Yorke could work their way into the mix.
But both have had issues at the plate. Gonzales was strong offensively, yet was the worst defensive third baseman in 2026.
Triolo brings excellent defense, but his bat lagged behind, as he hit .238/.307/.302 for a .610 OPS.
Sosa offers a cleaner blend of skills than that group. He gives Pittsburgh defense, flexibility and a much-needed answer against left-handed pitching. He could start at second base or third base depending on how the offseason unfolds, and he’d have a chance to become an everyday contributor for the first time in his career.
In Other News...
Pirates Face A Costly David Bednar Question This Offseason
David Bednars path out of Pittsburgh and into free agency has become one of the more interesting offseason subplots for a club that still needs to sharpen its roster in multiple places. The Pirates moved on from him after a rough start to the 2026 season, only to watch him settle in and finish strong, which makes the trade look a little more complicated now than it did in the moment. The prospects Pittsburgh got back are part of the equation too, but the bigger question is what the Pirates are willing to spend if they want to keep a proven late-inning arm in the mix.
Bednar remains a high-end bullpen option, the kind of reliever any contender would be happy to plug into the back end, but Pittsburgh has to weigh that against a broader list of needs. The bullpen can always use help, yet the front office also has other roster areas demanding attention, and thats where the real tension sits for this winter. The Pirates may like the idea of a reunion, but whether they make a serious push could say more about their offseason priorities than about Bednar himself. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Be Running Out Of Time On Their Top Offseason Need
The Pirates have spent the early offseason treating second base as their clearest priority, and Brandon Lowe has emerged as the player most tied to that need. Pittsburgh has been weighing ways to address the spot while the free-agent market still has some depth, but the broader backdrop is making the decision harder. The club would prefer to sort through its options with some patience, especially with other second basemen available if the top target proves too expensive or too difficult to land.
The problem is the calendar may not offer much of that patience. A potential MLB lockout could quickly squeeze the Pirates leverage and limit what they can do if negotiations stall, turning what looked like a measured pursuit into a more urgent one. If the market tightens and Lowe remains available, Pittsburgh may have to decide sooner than planned whether to push hard for him or risk watching its top offseason need linger deeper into the winter. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Still Lack The Late-Game Edge Contenders Rely On
The Pirates gave themselves something to build on with an 82-80 finish in 2026, their first winning season since 2018, but the run only sharpened the conversation around what still separates a good club from a true contender. In a year when the bullpen showed its flaws, Pittsburgh leaned on arms like Mason Montgomery and Yohan Ramrez, yet the late innings often looked more fragile than teams with October expectations can afford.
For a club trying to turn a modest step forward into a real jump, the relief corps remains the part of the roster that most needs sharpening. The Pirates have enough evidence now to know that better late-game run prevention is not just a luxury, and the next few moves will reveal whether they can turn a promising season into one with staying power. [Read more 🡒]