North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended their 2024 season with a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees. With the loss the Pirates finished 76-86, an identical record to the previous year. Considering the money spend, however unwisely, in the previous off season and the stellar play of rookies like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones this comes as a disappointment for Pirates fans. Some will point to the silver lining of the Pirates having the 6th best odds for the top pick in the 2025 Amateur Draft, however that is not the goal. The goal for the Pirates at this point needs to be and should be returning to the playoffs and pushing for a World Series. This goal was not close to being met this year, and Bob Nutting will need find where the accountability for these failures lay.

The Pirates started 9-2 and were two games up in the National League Central. They then went 5-15 over the rest of April ending the month 14-17 and five back. Minus May 6th, this was the closest they would be to the lead of the division throughout the rest of the season. That being said they did not go quietly into that good night; they fought hard ending July at 55-53. They then added at the deadline bringing in Outfield Bryan De La Cruz, Relievers Jalen Beeks and Josh Walker, Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, as well as prospects Nick Yorke and Billy Cook. However, on August 5th the Pirates lost their first of ten straight games. Then went 8-19 in August, sealing the team’s fate for the season, and turning fans into feral monsters calling for the heads of everyone in management. A 13-14 month of September might have saved a job or two, but no one will know for sure until, likely, a bit closer to the start of the offseason, though it could be much quicker.

Regardless, of who in management is kept or not it is time for a massive change in the way the Pirates operate this offseason. Spreading small one-year contracts around to sign guys that were good 2 to 4 years ago cannot continue. Micael A. Taylor did not rediscover his old form, nor did Rowdy Tellez, though he had a solid season. Trading for Edward Oliverez did not work, the late addition of Yasmani Grandal did not pay the dividends as hoped for either. Their biggest Free Agent acquisition was Aroldis Chapman who even with some struggles put up a pretty good season for the Pirates, enough that hopefully they can retain his services. A trade for Joey Bart was the best transaction of the season as he had a career year and cemented himself as the Pirates starting catcher moving forward. This offseason it is imperative for the Pirates to spend big in free agency, on one or two players, not five or six guys. Tyler O’Neill and Ha seong Kim need to be the Pirates targets there, along with the retention of Chapman.

Even with the same record as the previous season there were some steps forward this year, as well as too many regressions. If the Pirates are going to go in a different direction, do it immediately, rip the band aid off and open the purse strings and pitter patter. But regardless of who is in what office, spend the money where it is needed. If they cannot spend well in free agency or bring in the right additions, then there is no point to continue to let the team crush hope and create frustration year in and year out.