The Pirates last made it to the playoffs in 2015, and they haven’t had a winning season since 2018. This is because the team started a protracted rebuilding process that may be nearing its conclusion. Pittsburgh’s hopes for 2023 were dashed by a protracted slump in the middle of the season, but the team rebounded well at the beginning and end of the season to post a 76-86 record, their best win total since their 82 victories in 2018. The Cardinals unexpectedly finished last, meaning that the Pirates escaped the NL Central bottom for the second straight season.
In terms of their chances of challenging for a wild card berth in the National League as a whole, the Buccos still appear to be a few pieces away from at least a few division opponents. It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise, though, if the Pirates are closer than we might think to being serious contenders in 2024 given the uncertainty in the division and some of the youthful talent on Pittsburgh’s roster.
“I won’t pick a win percentage or number of games, but we’re within striking distance of a decent club for the first time in what seems like a decade, and maybe is only 6-7 years on the calendar. Although we still lack it, things are definitely moving in the right direction, according to Nutting. “I hope that [in 2024] we make another significant advancement. Another advancement means we can be competitive the entire season under the present playoff structure. That ought to be our base expectation, and it should be our goal to raise it.
Building blocks include Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Jack Suwinski, Mitch Keller, and David Bednar, while former top prospects Oneil Cruz and Henry Davis are seen as cornerstone players after more Major League experience. While it is unfortunate to lose Endy Rodriguez for the entirety year 2024, there are still some excellent minor leaguers who might soon be recognised as the next generation of brilliance. One such player is Paul Skenes, the 2023 first overall draft pick, if he continues to climb the ranks quickly.
As the seasoned captain and face of the team, Andrew McCutchen was re-signed, and the Pirates have attempted to bolster their experience by signing players like Rowdy Tellez, Marco Gonzales, and Martin Perez. The latter two in particular are much-needed upgrades to a pitching staff that was already thin before Johan Oviedo’s Tommy John surgery this winter.
Given that Tellez, Gonzales, and Perez were all either injured or unsuccessful during the 2023 season, the reinforcements aren’t exactly infallible. Given that McCutchen was already a member of the team the previous season, one may argue that the Pirates haven’t truly improved their talent level by adding this group of veterans while losing Oviedo and Rodriguez.
Among the rare times Nutting has given GM Ben Cherington high marks is now that he is “very pleased with what Ben’s getting done.”
Naturally, supporters of Pittsburgh would point out that Cherington could refill the roster more if he had greater financial backing. The Bucs have consistently been at or near the bottom of the league in terms of salary since Nutting acquired the franchise in 2007. They have only once, in 2016, placed as high as 20th in terms of Opening Day payroll. Nutting reaffirmed to Mackey that Cherington “has room to make moves that we need to make,” even if the owner did not provide an exact cash amount, after Cherington announced in December that the Pirates would increase their spending level from 2023 to 2024.
Though most of the roster upgrades still need to be made, the Pirates are on course to surpass last year’s spending levels in a small way. The Pirates might surpass last year’s salary threshold with only one more big deal. Pittsburgh’s Opening Day payroll in 2023 was $73.27 million, and Roster Resource estimates that their current payroll in 2024 will be approximately $69.2 million.
