North Shore Nine

On the latest WNS9+ presented by FanDuel, DiNardo, Jim, and Tyler welcomed Michael “Fort” McKenry for a Pirates check-in that mixed laughs with real roster talk.

Fort previewed PiratesFest, joked about navigating it on crutches, and hammered home one theme: the organization has to communicate its plan better. They hit the offseason additions (Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn), but agreed the roster still needs another dependable starter to feel like a true playoff bet. Then came the big one: Andrew McCutchen. Fort argued Cutch should be back, even in a platoon role, because the lineup has room and his ability to spot-start the outfield changes everything.

Finally, Fort broke down the catching “chaos,” praising Henry Davis’ game-calling and outlining simple identity tweaks at the plate, while still believing Endy Rodriguez can rebound if healthy. He even tossed in bold 2026 predictions too.

Watch or listen to the full episode now.