2026 Pirates Thread

[LB99]

Seems like the Pirates lucked into another young stud. Enjoy while he lasts for a short stint in the Burgh. He hit his first moon shot of off former Phillie Ranger Suarez #selltheteambob

Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin wows with home runs vs. Red Sox

Konnor Griffin, the Pirates' 19-year-old shortstop and the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, hit home runs off Red Sox pitchers Ranger Suarez and Seth Martinez.

www.espn.com

 

[BCS PSU]

Seems like the Pirates lucked into another young stud. Enjoy while he lasts for a short stint in the Burgh. He hit his first moon shot of off former Phillie Ranger Suarez #selltheteambob

Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin wows with home runs vs. Red Sox

Konnor Griffin, the Pirates' 19-year-old shortstop and the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, hit home runs off Red Sox pitchers Ranger Suarez and Seth Martinez.

www.espn.com

This should be their best team since 2018, which was the last time that they finished over .500. The Reds made the playoffs last season with 83 wins; I think that the Pirates definitely can and probably should approach that win total this season. It really hurts that Henry Davis, who was the No. 1 pick in the whole draft in 2021, now is just a good defense-poor hitting catcher, when it was supposed to be the other way around. If he were an All-Star caliber player, you'd be talking about him, Skenes and Griffin as elite No. 1 picks since 2021, which a team like the Pirates need.

 

[LB99]

On paper, yes, they should be competitive. However, I want to see a long term investment by ownership, which I have zero confidence will happen. This team, at least the free agent acquisitions, was/were put together because Nutting felt the pressure from fans and Skenes to be competitive. When the team slogan is “Sell the team, Bob”, it gets noticed. He has a long way to go to prove to me that he wants to win. A very long way to go.

 

[BCS PSU]

On paper, yes, they should be competitive. However, I want to see a long term investment by ownership, which I have zero confidence will happen. This team, at least the free agent acquisitions, was/were put together because Nutting felt the pressure from fans and Skenes to be competitive. When the team slogan is “Sell the team, Bob”, it gets noticed. He has a long way to go to prove to me that he wants to win. A very long way to go.

You're definitely correct; Nutting basically was pushed into spending more money on the team this season, and I believe that Skenes had a lot to do with it. What they did leading into last season was a disgrace and embarrassment. I really thought that the 2025 team was going to have a record like the 2025 Rockies did, but they played a little better after Kelly took over.

 

[Classof09]

Sadly I anticipate that Skenes has a great start, the Bucs are terrible and the deadline is another fire sale. I hope I’m wrong but this is Nutting after all. He only cares about the shared revenue and keeping as much as he can.

 

[BCS PSU]

Sadly I anticipate that Skenes has a great start, the Bucs are terrible and the deadline is another fire sale. I hope I’m wrong but this is Nutting after all. He only cares about the shared revenue and keeping as much as he can.

Well, when you look at the team that they're going to put on the field this season, they definitely shouldn't be terrible, and at the very least should win at least in the low 80s; they added several proven veterans, most of whom have been All Stars. I believe that they won 76 games in 2023 and 2024, and this team is much better than those two.

 

[Classof09]

Well, when you look at the team that they're going to put on the field this season, they definitely shouldn't be terrible, and at the very least should win at least in the low 80s; they added several proven veterans, most of whom have been All Stars. I believe that they won 76 games in 2023 and 2024, and this team is much better than those two.

No arguments at all. And not being cynical, just a Pirates fan - I am quite used to seeing them fail to meet expectations.

I’d feel better if they sent out Crash Davis instead of Henry Davis.

 

[LB99]

Well, when you look at the team that they're going to put on the field this season, they definitely shouldn't be terrible, and at the very least should win at least in the low 80s; they added several proven veterans, most of whom have been All Stars. I believe that they won 76 games in 2023 and 2024, and this team is much better than those two.

Again, on paper, yes, this team should be better. However, do they have any depth? An injury or two derails the whole season. Do they finally have a #4 power hitter that they lacked for the last five years or more? As you mentioned, what is the solution at catcher? Will they keep Griffin on the roster to start the season or will they keep him in the minors for part of the season to avoid paying him like they did to Gregory Polanco? If they are a borderline playoff team at the deadline, will they have the balls to make a move? There are a lot of questions still. Yes, I am a jaded lifelong Pirates fan. Nothing is a given with this organization. They have ripped my heart out more times than I can count. I maintain that until there is new ownership, they will never be more than a one year flash in the pan playoff qualifier every 10-20 years.

 

[BCS PSU]

Again, on paper, yes, this team should be better. However, do they have any depth? An injury or two derails the whole season. Do they finally have a #4 power hitter that they lacked for the last five years or more? As you mentioned, what is the solution at catcher? Will they keep Griffin on the roster to start the season or will they keep him in the minors for part of the season to avoid paying him like they did to Gregory Polanco? If they are a borderline playoff team at the deadline, will they have the balls to make a move? There are a lot of questions still. Yes, I am a jaded lifelong Pirates fan. Nothing is a given with this organization. They have ripped my heart out more times than I can count. I maintain that until there is new ownership, they will never be more than a one year flash in the pan playoff qualifier every 10-20 years.

Very few teams have quality depth; there’s no doubt that a couple of key injuries would totally destroy their hopes of a successful season. They do play in a fairly manageable division: the Cardinals are rebuilding, the Brewers definitely will have a course correction this season, the Reds aren’t much better on paper than the Pirates, and the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker from last season.

I am the exact opposite of a Pirates’ apologist. In fact, I believe that they’ve been a terrible organization for the most part since the end of the 1992 season. However, they did make a lot of good baseball moves this off-season.

 

[LB99]

Very few teams have quality depth; there’s no doubt that a couple of key injuries would totally destroy their hopes of a successful season. They do play in a fairly manageable division: the Cardinals are rebuilding, the Brewers definitely will have a course correction this season, the Reds aren’t much better on paper than the Pirates, and the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker from last season.

I am the exact opposite of a Pirates’ apologist. In fact, I believe that they’ve been a terrible organization for the most part since the end of the 1992 season. However, they did make a lot of good baseball moves this off-season.

I agree with you about the division. I’ve been saying for years that 85 wins many years will get you that division. I hope you are right and they compete for a playoff spot, but this organization has been an underachiever far too long to trust them from the top down.

 

[LB99]

 

[NittanyBuff]

Most excited I've been for a Bucco season in yrs!

 

[LB99]

Pirates 2026 Opening Day Roster Projection

 

[LB99]

Very few teams have quality depth; there’s no doubt that a couple of key injuries would totally destroy their hopes of a successful season. They do play in a fairly manageable division: the Cardinals are rebuilding, the Brewers definitely will have a course correction this season, the Reds aren’t much better on paper than the Pirates, and the Cubs lost Kyle Tucker from last season.

I am the exact opposite of a Pirates’ apologist. In fact, I believe that they’ve been a terrible organization for the most part since the end of the 1992 season. However, they did make a lot of good baseball moves this off-season.

They appear to have some flexibility on the infilled with Lowe, Gonzales and Triolo able to play multiple infield positions. Especially if Griffin makes the opening day roster and is locked in at SS.

 

[LB99]

Konnor Griffin's two-run homer | 03/01/2026

MLB No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin crushes a two-run home run to deep center field and gives the Pirates an early 2-0 lead over the Cardinals

www.mlb.com

 

[NittanyBuff]

Griffin looks like the real deal.

 

[LB99]

I heard former MLB GM and MLB Network analyst Steve Phillips today on XM radio. He called Griffin the best prospect he has seen in a really long time. He said if he doesn’t make the roster on opening day, he will very quickly. The only thing holding him back perhaps is having just 60 games above A ball. He said he is the real deal at just 19 yrs old.

 

[LB99]

Konnor Griffin's Impact and Pirates’ Extension Plans

Konnor Griffin's top-notch preseason might earn him a lucrative extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They would be smart to extend him early in his career.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Efejle]

Pirates 2026 Opening Day Roster Projection

With the exception of two players that's the same crappy lineup as last year

 

[PSUFTG]

With the exception of two players that's the same crappy lineup as last year

I don't know how much better (worse?) 2026 will be from 2025, but there is a lot of changeover:

Last year's opening day included:

Staring rotation:
Andy Heaney, Bailey Falter, and Carmen Mlod were the 5 man starting rotation - along with Skenes and Keller
Replaced this year by Bubba Chandler (who had a late call up last year) Brandon Ashcraft (who worked as a multi-inning bullpen guy last year, after being called up) and (probably) Orquidy as the 5th guy - though it could be Hunter Barco in that role, and/or Jarred Jones coming back from the DL by early summer.

Position guys:

DH
Cutch gone - Ozuna in


C
Last year was Bart and Rodriguez (for like a minute, until he got hurt again)
So not a lot of change there, aside from how time may be split between Bart and Davis (my guess is Davis gets a significant uptick in playing time - but who knows, and who knows how that will work out)

IB
Has Horowicz coming back - but he missed the first couple months last year. Also a lot of new guys who could fill in there/do some platoon splits w Horowitz (OHearn?)

2B:
Gonzalez out, Lowe in

SS:
Kiner Falefa out.
Who is in? Gonzalez? Griffin (If so, when? From day 1, or later in the season?)

3B:
Hayes out - Triolo in (at least for now) Triolo played a fair amount last year - bouncing to a few different positions. As of today he looks like the everyday 3B, but that could change.

CF:
Cruz.
Same situation as last year - meaning will this guy become anything close to what his "statcasts" say? Or just continue to stumble and bumble?

LF (or RF)
Reynolds
Same as last year

RF (or LF)
Suwinski and Pham are out as the 3rd/4th OFs
Into the breach come OHearn and Mangum - probably mixing and matching and shifting positions to cover the 3 OF spots. 1B, and DH
If "Password" Garcia continues his hot spring start, maybe he factors in from Day 1

 

[Still in State Colllege]

View attachment 1201537

 

[BCS PSU]

With the exception of two players that's the same crappy lineup as last year

It's actually three new batters, all of whom have been All Stars. Also, they have to hope that Reynolds and Bart bounce back from below average 2025 seasons and Cruz bounces back from a bad 2025. Also, Nick Gonzalez and Horwitz basically missed the first third of last season, and they're at least competent hitters.

I don't know how much better (worse?) 2026 will be from 2025, but there is a lot of changeover:

Last year's opening day included:

Staring rotation:
Andy Heaney, Bailey Falter, and Carmen Mlod were the 5 man starting rotation - along with Skenes and Keller
Replaced this year by Bubba Chandler (who had a late call up last year) Brandon Ashcraft (who worked as a multi-inning bullpen guy last year, after being called up) and (probably) Orquidy as the 5th guy - though it could be Hunter Barco in that role, and/or Jarred Jones coming back from the DL by early summer.

Position guys:

DH
Cutch gone - Ozuna in


C
Last year was Bart and Rodriguez (for like a minute, until he got hurt again)
So not a lot of change there, aside from how time may be split between Bart and Davis (my guess is Davis gets a significant uptick in playing time - but who knows, and who knows how that will work out)

IB
Has Horowicz coming back - but he missed the first couple months last year. Also a lot of new guys who could fill in there/do some platoon splits w Horowitz (OHearn?)

2B:
Gonzalez out, Lowe in

SS:
Kiner Falefa out.
Who is in? Gonzalez? Griffin (If so, when? From day 1, or later in the season?)

3B:
Hayes out - Triolo in (at least for now) Triolo played a fair amount last year - bouncing to a few different positions. As of today he looks like the everyday 3B, but that could change.

CF:
Cruz.
Same situation as last year - meaning will this guy become anything close to what his "statcasts" say? Or just continue to stumble and bumble?

LF (or RF)
Reynolds
Same as last year

RF (or LF)
Suwinski and Pham are out as the 3rd/4th OFs
Into the breach come OHearn and Mangum - probably mixing and matching and shifting positions to cover the 3 OF spots. 1B, and DH
If "Password" Garcia continues his hot spring start, maybe he factors in from Day 1

My expectation is for a win total at least in the low 80s, similar to what the Reds did last season which put them in the playoffs.

 

[PSUFTG]

It's actually three new batters, all of whom have been All Stars. Also, they have to hope that Reynolds and Bart bounce back from below average 2025 seasons and Cruz bounces back from a bad 2025. Also, Nick Gonzalez and Horwitz basically missed the first third of last season, and they're at least competent hitters.

My expectation is for a win total at least in the low 80s, similar to what the Reds did last season which put them in the playoffs.

That would be nice.

As I always do with the Bucs: I will hope for the best, but expect absolutely nothing