“We believe whatever the record was, we know it wasn't good enough,” Ben Cherington said Tuesday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates general manager is looking to upgrade a roster that finished the 2026 season with an 82-80 record, an 11-win improvement over the previous year, according to MLB.com.
A primary focus for the organization involves second baseman Brandon Lowe, whom the Pirates are attempting to bring back through free agency. The club is currently waiting for Lowe to decide on a $23.15 million qualifying offer, with a deadline to accept set for next Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Cherington said that the team must see how Lowe’s decision unfolds before finalizing how they will pursue roster upgrades.
While the team has previously targeted high-profile free agents like Kyle Schwarber and Munetaka Murakami, Cherington suggested the current offseason presents unique financial variables. Cherington told MLB:
“I don't feel like we're hamstrung or constrained.”
“But it is a different offseason … there are different commitments on the books and a different arbitration class, and I think it will have some effect on how we approach getting better. But that part's not changing.”
The Pirates are seeking to bolster both their starting rotation and bullpen.
Cherington expressed optimism regarding the group’s potential for the 2027 season, noting that the team’s 2026 pitching performance may have been impacted by factors beyond their control. Cherington told MLB:
We present to you: all 35 of Brandon Lowe's home runs from this season. 💣 pic.twitter.com/QO8zCc0MPK
“You look at 2026 and our total pitching performance, I think it's fair to say we gave up a few more runs than we thought we would and think we're capable of.”
“We think we're capable of being better than that. I also think there's some things under the hood that suggest that maybe there's a little bit of bad luck in there because the strikeout rate and walk rates are really good.”
The team is also exploring ways to improve its left-handed pitching depth through trades or free agency. According to MLB, the current left-handed starting option is Hunter Barco, while the bullpen’s southpaws include Brandon Eisert and Evan Sisk.
“For me, it just comes down to, you just want to have good pitching,” Bill Murphy, pitching coach, said.
“I don't care if they throw righty or they throw lefty. They’ve got to be able to get out righties. They've got to be able to get out lefties.”
The Pirates’ front office is looking at the roster with broad possibilities for improvement.
“We have a roster that's pretty solid.” “How do we upgrade it?” “This offseason, that's a little less specific to a single position and more where are the opportunities?”
The team faces increasing costs as players under existing contracts, such as Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller, see salary increases. First-time arbitration-eligible players including Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Nick Gonzales, Spencer Horwitz, and Carmen Mlodzinski will see raises. Cherington confirmed to MLB.com that Mitch Keller has fully recovered from a Grade 3 right arm teres major muscle strain.