Pirates mailbag: What changes should fans expect to see this offseason?

Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Welcome to the Pirates mailbag, where the Post-Gazette reporters Andrew Destin and Noah Hiles answer all your questions about the ball club. If you have questions, tweet them at @AndrewDestin1 and @_Noahhiles or email them at [email protected] and [email protected]. Andrew and Noah will answer your questions in full length each Thursday. Below are this week’s top questions.

Rob: What realistic full organizational changes do you see being made during the offseason? Will they revamp the player development model for hitters?

Destin: Beyond what’s already transpired with openings being created for various leadership roles, I imagine there will be further changes. What those will specifically be, it’s a bit too early to tell. However, I have to believe the Pirates will take a long look at the player development model, specifically as it pertains to the minor leagues. There are myriad examples of highly-regarded players who have thrived in the farm system but less so in the big leagues. The question the Pirates have to ask themselves on that front is — who is most responsible?

Hiles: I think we will see a lot of changes to the baseball operations staff. The front office has not been great over the past few years. Cherington has recognized this. They have three notable openings in leadership roles right now — the director of international scouting, pro scouting and research and development. I think we could see some more changes than just those. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see them create additional positions to focus on furthering their hitting development. As far as the coaching staff is concerned, I think the hitting and bullpen staff could see some changes.

Drew: With Derek Shelton and Ben Cherington presumably coming back next year, what have you seen to give fans hope that things will be different in 2025?

Destin: Stability. As frustrating of an answer as that may be, I do truly believe in continuity, and that comment is not solely directed toward the Shelton/Cherington duo. Instead, I think it will pay dividends to the Pirates to again have some seasoned and familiar faces like Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller in conjunction with the young pitching nucleus of Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and eventually top prospect Bubba Chandler. Much is contingent on what the Pirates do this offseason to address their hitting and defense, but there are some bona fide players in place. Should the 2025 campaign be a challenging one, though, then I think it would be fair to challenge much about the organizational structure.

Hiles: The easy answer here would be the starting pitching. Skenes, Jones, Keller, Ortiz and Falter are a really good returning five. Add in Oviedo and the guys currently in Triple-A, and there is genuine reason to expect that group to be much better than they were this year. The bullpen and the offense must improve. A better offseason will fix some of that. Continued development of young, promising players — Oneil Cruz, Nick Gonzales, Kyle Nicolas, Carmen Mlodzinski — also fixes part of that problem. As someone who has been around this club all season, I don’t think they’re far away. There is talent in that clubhouse. They just need a few more pieces to put it all together.

Runningbeam: Nutting gives you $30M/yr in salaries to spend in FA; give me your realistic wish list within that constraint

Destin: I’ll take shortstop Miguel Rojas, who is in the midst of a career year for the Dodgers and would be relatively affordable, any day of the week. He’s an elite defender up the middle, as well as a veteran who has played for both rebuilding clubs (Marlins) and teams with World Series aspirations (Dodgers). Rojas will be 36 at the start of next season but is on track to eclipse 100 games in a season for a fourth straight year (the streak would be seven seasons if not for the COVID-19 pandemic). Another area of need is a corner outfielder, and there are myriad choices. Personally, I think Max Kepler would be a good choice. He’s been a mixed bag at the plate as a big leaguer, but the defense has always more than played. Plus, Kepler is only a year removed from his third season of 20 or more homers. Outside of those two, the Pirates can add a couple of bench pieces, some bullpen arms and some organizational depth in Triple-A.

Hiles: I think that number will be a bit higher, considering they spent north of that last offseason, but I will play along. My two biggest targets would be a shortstop and a left fielder. Ha-Seong Kim from the Padres is a guy I’d consider offering a multi-year deal with an average base of around $10-$12. He helps this team drastically in both the field and at the plate. My ideal left-field targets would be Tyler O’Neill, Alex Verdugo and Harrison Bader, in that order. I’m spending the rest of the cash I left on the bullpen and Andrew McCutchen. If the shortstop and left-field signings take up too much of that total, then I’m building the bullpen through trades. The main point here should be this: they need to start signing free agents to multi-year deals. Get proven talent who can come in and help this club on and off the field.

M.E.: The timing seems right for a BIG move. If GMBC and Shelton come back, this seems like their last chance. Does that make it more likely? What about packaging 3 of their top 5 prospects for a young, controllable position player at a position (LF?) of need?

Destin: It would be pretty shocking if the Pirates pulled off a titanic move involving prospect capital. As of August 15, MLB Pipeline ranked the Pirates’ farm system the 20th best, and the franchise is certainly devoid of much pure hitting talent beyond Termarr Johnson and Konnor Griffin. Making a sizable move involving multiple top-5 prospects would be the Pirates mortgaging their future — frankly, I don’t think they’re in the business of doing that. Try to win with the current crop of since-graduated prospects and supplement with talent.

Hiles: I wouldn’t say it’s completely out of the question. Cherington has always been on the conservative side as a general manager, but it’s fair to assume he does feel some urgency to get this club to the postseason next year. If an opportunity presents itself, he could pull the trigger. But it would have to be something that he’s very, very confident in. I don’t think he’s willing to take a gamble, especially if that means parting ways with guys like Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Termarr Johnson.

Voice of Graves: In the best interest of the team and player, has surgery been considered for Henry Davis' left wrist since it continues to keep him off the field? Stints on the IL every year don't seem to resolve this issue. How soon does he permanently move to 1B?

Destin: Not currently, nor has surgery been seriously considered for other injured Pirates players like Ke’Bryan Hayes at this juncture. Davis’ recurring wrist injuries have not come close to approaching the degree of regularity nor severity of Colin Holderman, for instance, so I wouldn’t be too concerned. As much as there’s some logic to moving Davis in the hopes of taking some pressure off him, catcher is his natural position, and he demonstrated legitimate improvement there when healthy in 2024. I would advise giving Davis a straightforward offseason – stay with the catching work, look to improve with the bat and see how that benefits the Pirates in 2025.

Hiles: I haven’t heard any discussion of surgery when it comes to Davis’ wrist. I think we still have some time before we begin to worry about the severity of that injury impacting his long-term health as a ball player. As far as the position move goes, I will say what I always say when it comes to Davis’ future: He has to show signs that he can hit at the big league level. If he can’t, then it’s not worth taking the time to move him to his third position in as many years.

Rich: Why Jake Woodford on Wednesday and not, say, Mike Burrows? Anyone who has followed the team and how they’ve run the rotation knew this would be a “bullpen game.”

Destin: I fully understand the sentiment of wanting to see what Burrows can provide at the big-league level. Frankly, I’m in that camp as well — he’s an intriguing arm which, had he not gotten hurt, would probably already have a year with the Pirates under his belt, assuming Burrows met expectations. But coming off Tommy John surgery, Burrows has already had a whopping success of a year in the Pirates’ eyes by building back up to a near-normal workload and getting to Triple-A Indianapolis. The short answer is that Jake Woodford is a placeholder of a pitcher for this club. At this rate, I would be genuinely shocked if any bona fide “prospect” made a spot start.

Hiles: Woodford was the easiest option, simply because he’s been here this year, and Shelton knows he can at least get through three innings. I guess the question is, who would you like to see as an alternative? I’ve heard that Burrows isn’t ready for the big leagues just yet. That he is still finding his footing since Tommy John. Chandler was placed on the development list Wednesday afternoon, after his start Tuesday in Indy, due to innings management. I guess he could’ve made his final start Wednesday, but they would’ve still shut him down the next day. Thomas Harrington is another candidate, but my guess is they only wanted him to throw once more as well. At the end of the day, it might’ve just been down to Woodford or German as far as starters are concerned. They could’ve also gone with another reliever, which they might do next week.

Jim: If every MLB franchise was forced to roster an entire team comprised of their nickname, who would win the World Series? Example: Cardinals would have to be a team of actual cardinal birds, Padres would be a team of priests/monks, etc.

Destin: Admittedly, I’ve never watched “Angels in the Outfield,” mostly because film critics have universally panned it. That being said, it sounds like the Angels helped that club a good deal, and I’d think a team full of them would be pretty darn unstoppable. The opponent would never be able to hit a home run, and in today’s game of three true outcomes, I’ll put my money on the Angels. Though, don’t apply that confidence to the real-life Los Angeles Angels.

Hiles: I think the Yankees would be a tough team to beat. The USA is regularly in the World Baseball Classic final. They might not have the overwhelming size of the Giants — who would literally be giants — but a lineup with Henderson, Judge, Witt Jr. and Skenes on the mound would be my pick.

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