The Pittsburgh Pirates have a respectable 5 World Series titles in their franchise history, but recent years have not been kind to them.
After finishing the 2024 season with 76 wins and 86 losses, the Pirates missed the postseason for the ninth straight season and had their sixth straight losing season.
While the 2024 season wasn’t great overall, the Pirates did have a bright spot in rookie starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who won the NL ROTY Award and is a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award.
MLB analyst Jason Mackey revealed what he thinks the Pirates need to do this offseason.
“The Pirates need to land a big bat for first base,” McKee said.
It @Pirates: need to land a big bat for first base, says @JMackeyPG
pic.twitter.com/T4sQgl52X4
— FoulTerritory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 19, 2024
McKee notes that keeping Brian Reynolds at first base does not appear to be the answer, and that he will keep him in left field and O’Neil Cruz in center field and sign the regular first baseman.
He also mentions some names that interest him for the position, including Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Mountcastle and Yandy Diaz.
The Pirates haven’t made a postseason run out of the National League Division Series since 1992, and haven’t appeared in the World Series since 1979, their last World Series title.
With the free agent class loaded with big names this offseason, the Pirates should have a chance to acquire some utility players before the 2025 season.
It looks like the Pirates have found their future star with Skenes and they just need to add some offensive support to try and get the team back to a competitive level.
NEXT:
The stats show just how impressive Paul Skenes’ rookie season was
