I will give the Pirates credit for improving as the season went on. This team was better under Don Kelly than it was under Derek Shelton, and Kelly's leadership could keep this team on the up-and-up. The team used a starring role from Paul Skenes and tried a ragtag contact approach, which didn't work as well because nobody had an especially high OPS. There were more spots for up-and-comers and rookies, and more room for the big draft picks to play. It was another last place finish, but now you're seeing an actual desire, organizationally, to compete. They made Kyle Schwarber an offer. True, he didn't take it, but they're trying to make moves. They have Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery down for next year, that's definitely something. I think the priority should be trying to lock down Skenes, but, y'know, Nutting doesn't want that for some reason.
Even in a lost year, what really saved the Pirates' ass in the second half was another incredible defensive season from Jared Triolo. Triolo missed time in the first half, then came back and became one of the most statistically valuable pieces of this team, with a 2.3 WAR accumulated mostly from his excellent infield defense. That's the thing about this team, the defense was so good [between Triolo, Davis, and the soon-to-depart Hayes and IKF] that it made you wish the offense was better. At the very least Triolo stole 13 bases.
2026 Prediction: Loses some playing time to Brandon Lowe, but improves slightly at the plate, and stays all year.
Tommy Pham was looking like a waste of a contract, considering that during the first half his numbers were absolutely miserable. There was a reported story of, during a game, Tommy Pham waiting outside PNC Park for his Uber Eats to arrive, that made him look entirely checked out. So at some point Pham decided to lock in, because in June he hit .302 and in July he hit .388, with 21 RBIs in that time, plus some decent defense. Beyond that he was a .200 hitter with a mean streak.
2026 Prediction: Tries to make camp with a low market competitor, doesn't make the team and is himself about it.
Despite keeping Mitch Keller, the Pirates had a lot of open spots in the rotation, and many were filled by rookies. Mike Burrows got 23 games and 19 starts out of a come-up, and did pretty well with it, posting a 3.94 ERA and 97 Ks. The Pirates thanked him for this excellent come-up by trading him to Houston.
2026 Prediction: He stays healthy, wins 10 games. Not sure if the Astros are gonna be competitive next year, but Burrows will help.
Henry Davis was a #1 overall pick in 2021, and in the majors so far he's yet to show why. He got another nice look this year, and in 87 games he hit .167 with 7 homers and 22 RBIs, despite some excellent work on defense. This was another weak year for Davis, a guy the Pirates were sure would be a strong piece by now.
2026 Prediction: Finally takes off.
Johan Oviedo had battled injuries for a year or so, but made it up for 9 games and impressed, with a 3.57 ERA and 42 Ks. It was enough to give the Pirates extra stability in August and September, which was needed. He's also important because he landed Jhostynxon Garcia in Pittsburgh, and I see very big things happening there.
2026 Prediction: Is an okay 4th option in Boston but I'm pretty sure the Pirates are gonna win that trade.
And with the parachute basically pulled on this season, the Pirates went ahead and brought Bubba Chandler, Baseball America's #7 prospect going into the 2025 season, up to the big club. Chandler had some highs and lows in his 7 games, and despite 4 wins, 32 Ks and a 0.926 WHIP he had an ERA of 4.02. I do applaud the Pirates for letting him start more and more as the season went on after starting as a long-man.
2026 Prediction: Chandler will join Skenes and Jones at the top of that rotation and ensure that this team doesn't lose 90 games again next year.
Coming Tomorrow- A ton of leftovers from a Rangers season that killed the dream.
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