The Pitsburgh Pirates have a golden opportunity to compete for the next few years because of the fantastic young rotation they have, the decent pool of prospects in the system, and a relatively weak NL Central. The Pirates ownership does not do the fans any favors with the extremely low yearly payroll, but the team can position themselves to contend in 2025 with a coaching staff overhaul and some roster adjustments. Paul Skenes won't be around forever and will likely be on another team by the year 2029. With him and Jared Jones on near league minimum salaries for 2025, the time is now to put some extra money into the team.
During the run of postseason appearances from 2013-15, the Pirates' payroll peaked at roughly $100M, so that is what I set the budget at for 2025. Below you will see my offseason plan of what I would do if I was the GM of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Coaching Staff Changes
Manager Derek Shelton is fired
Bench Coach Don Kelly is retained
Assistant Hitting Coach Christian Marrero is fired
Pitching Coach Oscar Marin is fired
First Base Coach Tarrik Brock is fired
Third Base Coach Mike Rabelo is fired
Manager Joe Girardi is hired
The consensus about Girardi when he managed the Yankees was that he was an intense manager and treated every game with great importance. That can be bad thing and exhausting for some teams, but for this Pirates team, I think they need a little bit of that. Derek Shelton consistently benched hot hitters because it was their scheduled "rest day" and did not seem to put winning above everything else. To be fair, he was hired to help a losing ball club get through a rebuild and give young players a chance to play. The page has to be turned this year, and Girardi will help build a culture that prioritizes winning.
Hitting Coach Sean Casey is hired
Sean Casey's philosophy matches up perfectly with what the Pirates need. The Pirates ranked 24th in the majors in Batting Average so they are in need of a coach who preaches using the entire field and shortening up and putting the ball in play with two strikes. Casey is also a former Pirate and from Pittsburgh so he is a natural fit for the Pirates hitting coach position.
Pitching Coach Jake Peavy hired as pitching coach
When Peavy pitched from 2002 to 2016, he relied on 5 main pitches (Cutter, 4-Seam Fastball, Sinker, Curveball, and Slider) so that should help with potentially adding a pitch to the repertoires of the Pirates' pitchers. Peavy has been an analyst with MLB Network so he has stayed involved with the game after his retirement.
First Base Coach/Assistant Hitting Coach Michael Young is hired
Michael Young was a career .300 hitter playing for the Texas Rangers for most of his career, and had the hitting approach similar to what Sean Casey preaches now, making him a good fit to add onto the staff.
Third Base Coach Mike Napoli is hired
Napoli was the first base coach for the Cubs in 2024 but was let go a few days ago. He is a good fit for the Pirates because he will give a power hitting perspective to go along with Casey and Young.
2025 Coaching Staff
Manager: Joe Girardi
Bench Coach: Don Kelly
Hitting Coach: Sean Casey
Pitching Coach: Jake Peavy
First Base Coach/Assistant Hitting Coach: Michael Young
Third Base Coach: Mike Napoli
Players to Non-Tender/DFA/Let Walk/Trade for Cash/Trade for Prospect
LHP Jalen Beeks (FA)
Beeks had a 4.50 ERA with the Rockies and Pirates in 2024. There are better options available to help fill out the Pirates new look bullpen for 2025.
LHP Ryan Borucki (FA)
Injuries slowed Borucki down, and there are healthier and more reliable options available via trade and free agency.
C Yasmani Grandal (FA)
Joey Bart has emerged as a legitimate starting catcher, and the Pirates have Jason Delay and a healthy Endy Rodriguez in the system.
RHP Daulton Jefferies (DFA/Trade)
Jefferies battled an elbow injury in 2024 and has a career 6.59 ERA.
1B Connor Joe (Trade)
Joe went ice cold down the stretch so the Pirates should seek more consistency.
RHP Isaac Mattson (DFA/Trade)
Mattson has been solid in the minors, but has struggled in limited time in the majors, and his roster spot was needed to add new free agents.
LHP Joey Wentz (DFA/Trade)
Wentz has an ERA north of 5.00 in his career, and there are more reliable left-handed options available.
SS Alika Williams (DFA/Trade)
Williams is a good defender but has not hit enough to justify being on the 40-man.
RHP Ben Heller
RHP Johan Oviedo
RHP Dennis Santana
RHP Hunter Stratton
With the Pirates transitioning to a 6-man rotation and wanting to dramatically improve the bullpen, these right handers are expendable in a trade.
Club Option Decisions
LHP Marco Gonzales (Declined, $0 Buyout)
The $15M Option has to be declined after Gonzales struggled to a 4.55 ERA in 2024.
Players with Contracts to pencil in on Opening Day 40-Man Roster
C Joey Bart (First Year Arbitration Salary of $1.75M)
RHP David Bednar (Second Year Arbitration Salary of $5.25M)
CF Oneil Cruz (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
LHP Bailey Falter (First Year Arbitration Salary of $2.5M)
RHP Colin Holderman (First Year Arbitration Salary of $1.35M)
RHP Jared Jones (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
RHP Mitch Keller (Already signed, Luxury Tax Amount of $15.4M)
SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Already signed, Luxury Tax Amount of $6.283M)
RHP Luis Ortiz (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
IF Liover Peguero (Renewed for 1 year/$760K
LF Bryan Reynolds (Already signed, Luxury Tax Amount of $13.34375M)
C Endy Rodriguez (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
RHP Paul Skenes (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
UTL Jared Triolo (Renewed for 1 year/$760K)
Free Agent Signings and Extensions
RHP Trevor Bauer signed to 1 year/$760K contract.
Bauer will slot in as the number 4 starter in his return to the majors. He stated he would be willing to play for league minimum.
LHP Matthew Boyd signed to 1 year/$3.5M contract
With all the power right handers set to be in the rotation, it was important for the Pirates to add a lefty in the middle. Boyd has struggled to stay healthy, and being the veteran in the middle of a 6-man rotation should make this an attractive free agent spot for him.
LHP Aroldis Chapman resigned to 1 year/$6M contract.
Chapman showed signs of finally slowing down, but his final numbers and strikeout numbers were impressive, and he is brought back to be the 7-inning guy.
RHP Kendall Graveman signed to 1 year/$4M contract
Graveman missed the entire 2024 season because of shoulder surgery, but he had a 3.12 ERA in 68 games in 2023. Graveman has the chance to pitch in high leverage situations again to build his value up before he hits free agency again next year. From the Pirates perspective he has experience closing and pitching as a set-up man, so his versatility is valued.
1B Paul Goldschmidt signed to 1 year/$11.5M contract
The Pirates need a player who takes consistent professional at bats. Signing Goldschmidt to a one year is a low risk and potential high reward deal.
2B Jose Iglesias signed to 1 year/$3M contract
Iglesias batted .337 in 2024 which would help raise the team batting average. Iglesias also has the capability to play SS and 3B if needed.
OF Andrew McCutchen resigned to 1 year/$3M contract
McCutchen is brought back in what will likely be his final year. He will serve mostly as a fourth outfielder.
3B Gio Urshela signed to 1 year/$3M contract
Signing Urshela should be an upgrade offensively from what the Pirates got from Ke'Bryan Hayes last year. Urshela has always been a great defender and is capable of playing multiple infield spots.
Trades to Make
2B Nick Gonzales, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, C Henry Davis, SS Mitch Jebb, OF Tony Blanco Jr., OF Lonnie White Jr., LHP Hunter Barco, RHP Zander Mueth, & 2B Nick Yorke traded to the Oakland Athletics for RHP Mason Miller and DH Brent Rooker.
The Pirates would have to give up a ton of volume in this trade because they are not giving up any Top 100 Prospects.
2B Termarr Johnson, LHP Anthony Solometo, RF Bryan De La Cruz, RHP Kyle Nicolas, & SS Tsung-Che Cheng traded to the Chicago White Sox for OF Luis Robert Jr. & Cash
The justification in giving up so many prospects was because the Pirates need to be very aggressive in the next few years as their contention window is right now. The young rotation will hit arbitration soon and become more expensive, meaning less money can be put into the offense. Without an improved offense, the Pirates will see a repeat of the 2024 season. Also, I could justify giving up nine players in the two moves because the top prospects were not traded. Bubba Chandler, Konnor Griffin, Braxton Ashcraft, and Thomas Harrington were not moved. This hurts the depth of the Pirates minor league system, but the top end is still filled with decent players. The last justification for making these trades is that I do not believe a lot of the players traded will make a huge impact at the major league level. Henry Davis has struggled at the majors. Nick Gonzales had a fine 2024 season, but as a second baseman with only 7 home runs, he seemed to be easily replaceable. I was not high on Termarr Johnson during his draft year even though scouts thought he had a 70 Hit Tool. We have slowly watched that hit tool decrease to a 55 currently. The Pirates would be in a great spot to contend in 2025 with these trades while not destroying their future too much. If the Pirates stay conservative and not make any big trades now, they will be mediocre in 2025, and they will be mediocre in 2028 and beyond as well, because of the lack of star players in the system. I would be okay with this team having a better chance to compete in 2025-27 while potentially struggling a little more in 2028 and beyond, because I think if they stay conservative now, they will be mediocre in 2028 anyways. Doing nothing this offseason will result in mediocrity for the next 10 years, so it makes sense to push a lot of chips in to compete the next 2-3 years. The time is now to give this city a team to be passionate about.
Pirates New Top 10 Prospects After Trades
1. RHP Bubba Chandler
2. RHP Thomas Harrington
3. SS Konnor Griffin
4. RHP Braxton Ashcraft
5. RHP Levi Starling
6. SS Wyatt Sanford
7. LHP Michael Kennedy
8. RHP Mike Burrows
9. LHP Josh Hartle
10. SS Yordany De Los Santos
Summary of Moves
- Jalen Beeks
- Ryan Borucki
- Tsung-Che Cheng
- Henry Davis
- Bryan De La Cruz
- Marco Gonzales
- Nick Gonzales
- Yasmani Grandal
- Ke'Bryan Hayes
- Ben Heller
- Daulton Jefferies
- Connor Joe
- Isaac Mattson
- Kyle Nicolas
- Johan Oviedo
- Dennis Santana
- Joey Wentz
- Alika Williams
- Hunter Stratton
+ Trevor Bauer
+ Matthew Boyd
+ Kendall Graveman
+ Paul Goldschmidt
+ Jose Iglesias
+ Mason Miller
+ Luis Robert Jr.
+ Brent Rooker
+ Gio Urshela
Rule 5 Eligible Players/Other Internal Players to Add to 40-Man Roster
RHP Bubba Chandler
Chandler is added in order to be put on the opening day roster. He helps round out the Pirates incredible 6 man rotation.
RHP Thomas Harrington
Harrington will start the season in the top of the rotation in Triple-A and will be an option to start games or be a relief option in the second half of the season.
C Carter Bins
C Wyatt Hendrie
C Wyatt Hendrie
OF Matt Gorski
1B Malcolm Nunez
The Pirates do not have any elite prospects they had to protect, so it made sense to protect their catching depth. Even though Bins and Hendrie likely won't impact the MLB club, it was important to maintain some catching continuity in the minor leagues. Gorski had 23 homers with Triple-A Indy in 2024, and the Pirates are desperate to add power to the MLB club, so he was protected. With Nunez's ability to play 1B, he was protected because the Pirates do not have a long-term plan at 1B just yet.
Opening Day 40-Man Roster
26 Man Opening Day Roster + Salaries (in millions)
Opening Day Lineup
1. R Jose Iglesias, 2B
2. S Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. R Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. R Brent Rooker, DH
5. L Oneil Cruz, CF
6. R Luis Robert, Jr., RF
7. R Joey Bart, C
8. R Gio Urshela, 3B
9. R Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS
SP: R Paul Skenes
7th Inning: L Aroldis Chapman
8th Inning: R Kendall Graveman
9th Inning: R Mason Miller
