The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2025-2026 offseason has been one to remember. So far, they’ve acquired Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery, Jake Mangum, and Jhostyxon Garcia via trades, and have signed Ryan O’Hearn, Gregory Soto, and Marcell Ozuna to Major League contracts. It’s the most activity the Pirates have had during the winter for a very long time. While Spring Training games are about to begin, there are still plenty of free agents and potential trade targets the Pirates could go after, and solve some of the remaining holes on the roster.

After an Active Winter, what’s left for the Pittsburgh Pirates?
The third base conundrum

The Pirates went into the offseason with Jared Triolo as their primary third baseman, and that is still where they stand. Triolo is one of the best defensive infielders in the game. He has played all four infield positions throughout his MLB career, with most of his time spent at the hot corner. There, he has +13 defensive runs saved and +9 outs above average. However, his bat is lackluster. Even though Triolo is trending in the right direction, his xwOBA only went from .296 in 2024 to .310 in 2025.

It’s not as if the Pirates haven’t tried to secure a third baseman this offseason. They made a push for Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto before he signed a four-year deal at $60 million guaranteed. They also lost out on veteran slugger Eugenio Suarez, who reunited with the Cincinnati Reds on a one-year deal at $15 million.

Unfortunately, the free agent market does not offer any sizable upgrades. The remaining top third basemen still without a team include Luis Rengifo and Ramon Urias. However, there are a plethora of potential upgrades on the trade market. The Bucs have been heavily connected to Houston Astros’ 3B Isaac Paredes. The New York Mets could move one of Brett Baty or Mark Vientos after signing Bo Bichette to play third base. The Philadelphia Phillies could still move Alec Bohm. Or, the Pirates could go outside the box and pursue Washington Nationals’ shortstop CJ Abrams.

And the final rotation spot is

While the Pirates still have a strong rotation and some notable prospects in the upper levels of the minor leagues, they thinned out the depth chart this offseason. They traded Mike Burrows to the Astros as part of the three-team deal that landed them Lowe, Mangum, and Montgomery. They also traded Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for Garcia. That leaves the final rotation spot up for grabs.

The Pirates could use an internal solution. Hunter Barco made his MLB debut last year and could be in the running for the final spot. Thomas Harrington could also be a candidate, even though he struggled in 2025. The Bucs also signed veteran right-hander Jose Urquidy; however, he’ll likely serve more as a depth piece or long relief option, rather than a rotation option.

However, the free agent market still has plenty of pitchers left. Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell, and Chris Bassitt are the best starters remaining. The Pirates reportedly made an effort to sign left-handed ace Framber Valdez, but missed out. He signed with the Detroit Tigers. However, the Pirates may pivot toward another high-end free-agent SP. If they don’t, a reunion with left-hander Jose Quintana is still an option. Other back-of-the-rotation options still left include Griffin Canning, Tyler Anderson, Patrick Corbin, and Max Scherzer.

Where to go from here?

If the Pirates do anything else this offseason, it’s to secure a better hitting third baseman. Triolo provides a ton of value in a utility role, given his strong defense. The Pirates’ defense is also taking a hit after signing Ozuna. Getting some more offense when the line-up struggled so badly last year should still be a priority. Adding a starter should still be on the to-do list. Rounding out the staff with a reliable starter would make their rotation one of, if not the best in baseball. However, bringing in another 3B option should take top billing right now. After that, the Pirates can turn their focus on adding to the rotation and finish out their already promising offseason on a high note.

Main Photo Credits: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images