MLB · NL Central · Est. 1881 · PNC Park
Updated March 16, 2026
Paul Skenes is a generational pitching talent, and the Pirates' 2026 season is essentially about proving they can build a competitive roster around him. Owner Bob Nutting showed at least a semblance of effort this winter, but the gap between Skenes and the rest of the roster remains vast.
Acquired from the Rays in a three-team trade, Brandon Lowe brings left-handed power to a lineup that desperately needed it. Lowe's ability to mash right-handed pitching gives the Pirates a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat alongside Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes.
O'Hearn parlayed a breakout All-Star season in 2025 into a free-agent deal with Pittsburgh, and the first baseman gives the Pirates a professional hitter who can anchor the lineup. Whether he can replicate that production or regresses toward his career norms is a key swing factor.