Pirates’ Offseason Moves From Past 5 Years; Not Much to Rave About

Title: Pirates' Offseason Moves From Past 5 Years; Not Much to Rave About | Pittsburgh Baseball Now Ben Cherington has been the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for six offseasons, focusing primarily on a rebuild since his hiring in 2019. The Pirates have not signed any free agents to guaranteed multi-year contracts during Cherington's tenure, highlighting a reluctance to engage in the free agent market. Cherington's first offseason involved minimal free agent signings and a significant trade of Starling Marte, which reflects the team's rebuilding strategy. The second offseason saw the departure of key players like Josh Bell, Joe Musgrove, and Jameson Taillon, with the trade of Musgrove bringing in valuable assets. In the 2021-22 offseason, the Pirates continued to rebuild but were slightly more active in free agency, signing players like Jose Quintana, who later contributed to a trade. The 2022-23 offseason marked a more aggressive approach, with several roster additions including the return of Andrew McCutchen, although the results were mixed. Despite a 14-win improvement in 2023, the Pirates finished with the same record as the previous season, indicating stagnation in progress. The 2023-24 offseason included the signing of Aroldis Chapman, the team's largest free agent acquisition under Cherington, along with other veteran signings. The lack of impactful offseason acquisitions has been a barrier to the Pirates' postseason aspirations, raising questions about their competitive strategy. There is a call for ownership to support more significant investments in free agents to enhance the team's chances of contention moving forward.

Original Article: https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/pittsburgh-pirates-offseason-moves-under-ben-cherington/

Original Article Author: Danny Demilio