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)
With all-world starting pitcher and franchise cornerstone Paul Skenes almost certain to win the National League Cy Young Award in his first full season as a starter, the Pittsburgh Pirates enter a pivotal offseason ahead of 2026. If they’re serious about building a contender around Skenes during the four years remaining on his rookie contract, the Pirates can’t waste any time: every season they have with one of the best pitchers in baseball for pennies on the dollar is a gift from the baseball gods.
That said, the Pirates have already shown they aren’t serious about competing, as reports filter out that veteran starter Mitch Keller is on the trade block. With that in mind, here are three realistic free agent predictions for Pittsburgh heading into 2026.
Right-handed reliever Luke Weaver
The Pirates’ bullpen could use a facelift after blowing 26 saves last season, the ninth-worst mark in Major League Baseball. That statistic doesn’t show the full picture either, as star closer David Bednar carried the team through much of the first four months of the season. Now that he’s on the Yankees, Pittsburgh’s prospects look even bleaker.
Enter bullpen arm Luke Weaver, who pitched to a 3.62 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 64.2 innings last season. Weaver isn’t a world beater, but he managed to settle into a respectable role with the Yankees after struggling mightily during the first few years of his career.
A former first round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Weaver fills an immediate need and provides some upside.Â
Catcher Gary Sánchez
The idea of Gary Sánchez to the Pirates got plenty of hype ahead of the 2024 season. General Manager Ben Cherington ended up signing veteran Yasmani Grandal as the team’s lead backstop that year, but as neither Henry Davis nor Joey Bart inspires much confidence, the team could use another option at catcher once again.
A streaky player throughout his career, Sánchez had a rough 2024 on a bad Orioles team, but still managed to put up a league average OPS. Owner of 189 home runs across parts of 11 big league seasons, Sánchez has plenty of pop for a catcher and could help generate some of the offense the Pirates so desperately need. He also won’t break the bank.
Outfielder Starling Marte
The Pirates will reunite with an old friend, bringing former Bucco Starling Marte back into the fold. The second-best position player in Pittsburgh this century, Marte now enters his age 37 season.
He slashed .270/.335/.410 with nine home runs and 14 doubles in 98 games last season, spending much of his time at designated hitter as he shook off the lingering effects of a knee injury that plagued him starting in 2023. Marte isn’t an everyday player anymore, but the Pirates are in the market for a DH with Andrew McCutchen set to test free agency. They’ve already shown a preference for homecomings.
Mentioned in this article: Ben Cherington Gary Sanchez Luke Weaver Pirates Starling Marte
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