Pirates' Latest Projection Has Team Headed in Right Direction

Pittsburgh adds offensive firepower to complement ace Paul Skenes

Feb. 26, 2026 at 9:10pm

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have made several key offseason moves, including acquiring Brandon Lowe, signing Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna, and having top prospect Konnor Griffin nearing his MLB debut. While they may struggle to win the NL Central, these additions should help the Pirates improve on their recent losing seasons and get closer to 80 wins in 2026.

Why it matters

The Pirates have been a struggling franchise in recent years, but these offseason moves demonstrate a commitment to building a more competitive team around their ace pitcher Paul Skenes. Improving the offense could help the Pirates become a more formidable opponent in their division and potentially end their playoff drought.

The details

The Pirates acquired Brandon Lowe in a three-team trade, signed Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year deal, and signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year contract. These additions should provide more power and run production to complement Skenes' dominant pitching. Top prospect Konnor Griffin is also nearing his MLB debut, further boosting the team's future outlook.

  • The Pirates made these key offseason moves in the 2025-2026 offseason.
  • Konnor Griffin is expected to make his MLB debut for the Pirates at some point in the 2026 season.

The players

Paul Skenes

The Pirates' ace-level pitcher who has performed well despite the team's recent losing seasons.

Brandon Lowe

An excellent source of power from the left side that the Pirates acquired in a three-team trade.

Ryan O'Hearn

A power hitter the Pirates signed to a two-year deal to bolster their offense.

Marcell Ozuna

A veteran slugger the Pirates signed to a one-year contract to provide power from the right side as their primary DH.

Konnor Griffin

The top prospect in baseball who is nearing his MLB debut with the Pirates and expected to give the team a boost.

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What they’re saying

“The additions of Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Ryan O'Hearn should improve a group that still includes Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds. Additionally, baseball's No. 1 overall prospect, Konnor Griffin, is going to give the Pirates a jolt at some point in 2026, probably sooner than later. Pittsburgh still probably isn't going to be a playoff team in 2026, but it's not unreasonable to think they'll finish closer to 80 wins than 70 this season.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

The Pirates will look to integrate their new offensive pieces and top prospect Konnor Griffin into the lineup as they aim to improve on their recent losing seasons and push closer to 80 wins in 2026.

The takeaway

The Pirates' offseason moves demonstrate a commitment to building a more competitive team around their ace pitcher Paul Skenes. While they may still struggle to win the NL Central, the additions of power hitters like Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Ryan O'Hearn, along with the arrival of top prospect Konnor Griffin, should help the Pirates take a step in the right direction and get closer to ending their playoff drought.