There are reports that the Pirates will have $30-$40 million more on payroll and that they could spend around $100-$110 million, which would mark the most they’ve spent under Nutting.

While there are no signings just yet, the Pirates have reportedly been discussing offers with free agents and on trades to bolster their team.

This includes free agents in NL MVP finalist Kyle Schwarber, who hit 56 home runs in 2025, Japanese superstars in Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, plus other bats in first baseman Pete Alonso, second baseman Jorge Polanco and slugger Ryan O’Hearn.

The Pirates also have inquired on the St. Louis Cardinals and their left-handed hitting in second baseman Brendan Donovan, outfielder Lars Nootbaar and infielder Nolan Gorman.

What the Pirates Need for 2026

The Pirates have a strong pitching staff, even outside of NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, with the likes of rookies in Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows and Bubba Chandler, plus veterans in Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo.

They gave up the third least home runs allowed (153), posted the fourth lowest WHIP (1.22), seventh lowest team ERA (3.76), the seventh least walks (473) and the eighth lowest opposing batting average (.236).

Pittsburgh also led the MLB in shutouts with 19, two more than both the two second place teams in the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, who had 17.

The Pirates were terrible offensively, with the lowest slugging percentage (.350) and OPS (.655), the third lowest batting average (.231) and the eighth lowest on-base percentage (.305) in 2025.

They scored the least runs (583) and drove in the least RBIs (561) in baseball, both lower than the Colorado Rockies, who finished with a 13. They also hit the least home runs (117), 31 home runs less than then second-lowest team in the St. Louis Cardinals at 148 home runs, and had the seventh most strikeouts (1,422).

Pittsburgh going after position players makes the most sense, but they’ll have to actually sign a few players or land them in trades, if they want to achieve their goals for next season.