The Pittsburgh Pirates are rumored to be spending this offseason. And while we have seen lots of reports around, we’re still waiting to see if anything materializes. But now the Bucs are being linked to another player that could improve their league-worst offense. According to the New York Post, the New York Mets are trying offload veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil, and the Bucs are one of the potential suitors.
If the Bucs were to obtain McNeil, it would be via trade, and while the 33-year-old McNeil is past his prime, he still hit .243 last season with 12 homers and 53 RBIs, although he’s only three seasons removed from leading the Majors in 2022 with a .326 average. McNeil is scheduled to make $15.7 million in 2026, and would make for an easy swap with Mitch Keller ($15.4 million) should the Pirates wish to pursue a deal, although I don’t love the idea of moving one of the team’s best pitchers for an aging player clearly past his best.
The same article also reiterates a past rumor and mentions the Bucs as potential suitors for Kyle Schwarber, a topic that Austin covered earlier this week, but also adds J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos to the mix.
Realmuto, a catcher, is a free agent, and the 34-year-old hit .257 with 12 homers ands 52 RBIs last season, and would bring some much-needed pop from the catcher position.
Castellanos would need to be acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, with the Post saying:
“The Marlins, like the Pirates, are threatening to spend on offense following their vastly improved 2025 showing. Castellanos could be a consideration for either the Pirates or Marlins.”
Castellanos, who is a 33-year-old right fielder, is coming off of a seaon in which he hit .250 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs, and would certainly fit a need. In fact, Pirates fans dubbed the outfield as the biggest need for the Bucs this offseason, and there’s no doubt Castellanos would help with that deficit. He’s scheduled to make $20 million in 2026 and would be an attainable trade target for the Bucs should they decide to go that route.
It remains to be seen how much actual smoke is behind these rumors if it’s just a natural reaction to statements about the Bucs wanting to spend and matching up positions of need — catcher and outfield are two huge needs for the Bucs — but with offseason moving along quickly and Bucs GM Ben Cherington still talking about wanting to be aggressive, the scuttlebutt is officially leaning towards the Bucs making some real moves this offseason.