Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington introduces Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft selection, Termarr Johnson the media after signing him to a contract with the team before a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies in Pittsburgh, Friday, July 29, 2022.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The Pittsburgh Pirates made their biggest splash of the offseason on Friday when they acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty reliever Mason Montgomery from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that routed Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros.
The trio of players the Pirates landed join outfielder Jhostynxon García (acquired from Boston) and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto (signed as a free agent) as the additions made this offseason.
While the Pirates have been active leading up to Christmas, the expectation is that they aren’t done bringing in players to try and push for Pittsburgh’s fist postseason appearance since 2015.
Most notably, the Pirates are still looking to add another impact hitter to their lineup.
“We’d like to add another let’s say proven bat somewhere on the roster whether that’s outfield, whether that’s corner infield or whether that’s DH,” general manager Ben Cherington said via Zoom. “I think we just got to keep working it and pursuing all the angles.”
The offense already received a clear upgrade in Lowe, who hit 31 home runs and was an All-Star for the Rays in 2025. But it will take more than one established big-league player to turn things around. Last season, the Pirates finished last in baseball in runs scored, OPS and home runs.
Though second base is now solved, the Pirates still have other positions they could look to address.
“The fact that [Lowe] can play second, we believe, also keeps options open for us to add another bat in another spot,” said Cherington.
The Pirates have been aggressive in free agency with reported offers to Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Polanco but have yet to sign anyone other than Soto for one year and $7.75 million. Cherington so far has had to dip into his starting pitching depth to add offense, and while never saying never, the Pirates would prefer to add to their starting pitching group than subtract from it again.
“I think we have a lot of confidence in the group we have right now,” Cherington said of his options for the rotation. “I think we’d be confident opening the season where we are. But if we can add back some starting pitching or bulk depth and upside to that group then yes, that’s something we’d prefer to do if we can do it.”
Elsewhere on the pitching staff, even with the additions of Soto and Montgomery to the bullpen, Cherington isn’t done looking to make further moves in that department.
The Pirates traded two-time All-Star David Bednar to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline, leaving Dennis Santana as the top high-leverage option for manager Don Kelly. Outside of Santana and Soto, it’s a largely unproven mix of relievers who could fill out the rest of the bullpen.
“I think we’re certainly open to continuing to add in the bullpen,” said Cherington.
Overall, it seems like a good start to the offseason for Cherington and co. But there is still work to be done between now and the start of spring training and it should continue to be an active seven weeks or so before pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton in February.
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