After a disappointing last-place finish in 2024, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington entered this offseason with a full plate. Last year’s version of the Pirates finished 76-86, identical to how they completed 2023. This, after Cherington and owner Bob Nutting both stated that they expected the Pirates of 2024, the fifth year for Cherington and manager Derek Shelton, to contend. There were no such public statements on expectations for 2025, but the Pirates’ needs have been clear.
Last year’s bright spots were a starting rotation that included National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, and Bailey Falter, and . . . that was it. Cherington needed to improve an offense that finished at the bottom of the NL in virtually every important category. Specifically, the Pirates’ weak offense screams for a power hitter or two, preferably who could fill vacancies at first base and in right field. Equally important was the need to repair an ineffective bullpen that too often wasted strong outings by the starters. There were also coaching vacancies to fill.
Grading Ben Cherington and the Pirates Offseason
So far this offseason, excluding the usual barrage of minor league free agent signings likely to bring no more than organizational depth, here are the moves Cherington has made:
- Allowed Jalen Beeks, Aroldis Chapman, and Yasmani Grandal to walk as free agents;
- Didn’t tender contracts to Bryan De La Cruz and Connor Joe, making them free agents;
- Brought back free agent pitchers Ryan Borucki, Hunter Stratton, and Ryder Ryan, all on minor league deals, and designated hitter/outfielder Andrew McCutchen;
- Traded pitcher Luis Ortiz and two prospects to the Cleveland Guardians for first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who came from the Toronto Blue Jays in the three-team deal;
- Traded a minor league pitcher to the Boston Red Sox for infielder Enmanuel Valdéz;
- Signed free agent pitchers Caleb Ferguson and Tim Mayza, versatile Adam Frazier, and outfielders DJ Stewart and Tommy Pham, with Stewart’s deal being a minor league deal;
- Purchased pitcher Peter Strzelecki from the Guardians; and
- Hired batting coach Matt Hague, assistant pitching coach Brent Strom, and bullpen coach Miguel Pérez.
Of course, the offseason isn’t over yet for the Pirates and Cherington. They signed Michael A. Taylor late in spring training in 2024. There may be other shoes to drop, which might help put some of the above transactions into better perspective. However, for now, we only know what we know so far. With the Pirates starting spring training on Wednesday, the offseason is over. Let’s see how Cherington has addressed each area of need before issuing a letter grade.
First Base
The most intriguing of the additions to the offense is Horwitz, who was considered a rookie last year after having a cup of coffee in the majors in 2023. In 112 games for the Blue Jays, the left-handed batter hit .264/.355/.428, 13 HR, and 47 RBI. He comes with a reputation as a line-drive hitter with good strike zone knowledge. So far in the majors, his 24.0 line drive percentage and 36.7 hard-hit percentage are right around the major league average. His OBP numbers are more impressive. In five minor league seasons, he had an OBP of .413. There are two things to note about Horwitz. First, Cherington has long coveted him, hence a possible reason why, in the estimation of many, he overpaid for the young first baseman. Second, Toronto fans disliked the deal as much as Pirates fans did.
But does Horwitz have the kind of skills the Pirates need right now? His minor league record doesn’t suggest a power hitter. His highest home run total in professional baseball is 12, achieved last year with Toronto and twice in the minors. He profiles as a top-of-the-order hitter. But McCutchen likely has the leadoff spot sewn up. Last year, “Cutch” produced a .343 OBP from the leadoff spot.
The Outfield
In 2024, Pham, who’s likely to see most of the action in right field as things presently stand, produced numbers (.674 OPS, 91 OPS+) eerily similar to Joe’s (.688 OPS, 92 OPS+). It’s legitimate to wonder why Cherington would essentially swap out Pham for Joe, who’s younger and a better outfielder. Keep in mind that at the time of the deadline for tendering contracts, Cherington didn’t know who he would sign to replace Joe. It’s doubtful that his plan was to ditch Joe so he could put out an all-out effort to get Pham. In any event, Pham is a Pirate and Joe is not.
Pham, 36 and a right-handed hitter, has been a player in decline. Playing for three teams last year, he hit .248/.305/.368, 9 HR, and 39 RBI. Since 2020, he’s hit .240/.321/.387. What likely attracted the Pirates, who haven’t announced the signing yet, is Pham’s well-known fire and the hope that he can improve on last year’s numbers after what Pham has described as a difficult year.
Stewart merits mention as a dark horse candidate to make the squad. The left-handed hitting corner outfielder has major-league experience. In parts of seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets, he hit .212/.328/.401, 42 HR, and 118 RBI in 327 games. According to Baseball Reference, his 162-game-average home runs equate to 21. Shelton will likely want a left-handed hitter to spell Pham occasionally. With Jack Suwinksi, Joshua Palacios, and Ji Hwan Bae, three left-handed batters who couldn’t seize an opportunity on last year’s offensively challenged Bucs, as the competition, is it that far-fetched that Stewart could make the team with a good spring?
The Bullpen
Where Cherington may have done his best offseason work is with the Pirates bullpen. The right-handed Strzelecki, 30, was a late bloomer but has had success in the majors. In three years with three teams, he has a 3.44 ERA and 1.219 WHIP in 77 games. He had a 2.83 ERA in 30 games in his rookie season in 2022. Last year, he gave up three earned runs in 11 2/3 innings for Cleveland. However, his minor league record, which includes a 4.22 ERA in six seasons, suggests that his major league performance might be an aberration.
Cherington did well to stock the bullpen with left-handers. Although on a minor league contract, if Borucki returns to the Borucki of 2023, when his 0.744 WHIP led all of baseball, he’ll be an important late-inning option. The sleeper in the group may be Mayza, who’s just one year removed from a fine 2023 when he posted a 1.52 ERA with Toronto. Ferguson enjoyed good seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and 2022. He didn’t pitch in 2021 due to an injury. Combining 2020 and 2022, he had an ERA of 2.19 and a 1.106 WHIP in 58 games. In spring training, Ferguson will be stretched out to compete for a starting berth. That hardly makes sense, despite Ferguson having 14 major league starts, half of which occurred in 2023. But it may have been something that he demanded as a condition to signing.
The Middle Infield
With the Pirates already having more than their fair share of middle infield depth, the additions of Valdéz and Frazier don’t seem to fill any pressing need. What the Pirates don’t have is an abundance of left-handed-hitting middle infield depth – that is, until No. 3 prospect Termarr Johnson is ready. With a seven-figure contract, Frazier is a lock to make the final roster, almost certainly kicking Valdéz to the curb.
Like Pham, Frazier, 33, is in the twilight of his career. Last year, he hit .202/.282/.294 while playing five infield and outfield positions for the Kansas City Royals. He’s no longer the player who hit .324/.388/.448 and made the All-Star team as a Pirate in 2021.
The Grade
To say the least, these offseason moves by Cherington for the Pirates have been underwhelming. No power hitters were added. Take any of last year’s lineups, replace the first baseman and right fielder with Horwitz and Pham, and it doesn’t look any more fearsome. The bullpen additions have inconsistent track records.
Maybe Horwitz and Pham (and Stewart?) will provide the offensive upgrade the Pirates need. Perhaps Pham’s leadership will bring back memories of the Pirates’ 1979 Fam-A-Lee. We are Pham-A-Lee? Maybe Strzelecki, Ferguson, and Mayza will pitch like they did in their best seasons. Maybe Borucki will be healthy and revert to his 2023 form. Perhaps closer David Bednar, who regressed severely in 2024, will pitch more like the All-Star of 2022 and 2023. Maybe the coaching of Hague and Strom will make these things possible. Maybe Frazier will do…whatever the Pirates hope to get out of this head-scratching addition.
That’s a lot of “maybes” and “perhapses.” But Cherington is a big believer in his processes and will sink or swim with them. A stubborn belief in what one is doing is a mark of a successful person. The problem for the Pirates is that Cherington can hardly be described as successful during his tenure as their GM. Grade: D.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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