The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to do something in 2026 they haven’t done in 10 years: make the playoffs.
From 2013 to 2015, they reached the postseason three straight seasons but haven’t returned since. They finished third in the NL Central the year after that run but have since settled into fourth- and fifth-place finishes year after year.
With some offseason additions already made and pieces in place, Pittsburgh believes 2026 could finally be a season where it competes again.
MLB.com’s David Adler has the team trending upward, with projections pointing toward a winning season.
“The Pirates aren’t quite a projected playoff team, but they have the highest playoff odds of any team outside of the initial postseason field at 38%,” Adler wrote. “And the projections give them a fighting chance in the NL Central race along with the Cubs (projected 86 wins, 64% playoff odds) and Brewers (projected 83 wins, 42% playoff odds). They’ll go as far as Paul Skenes can take them.”
But Skenes can only do so much from the mound every fifth day. The Pirates are going to need to score runs.
Pirates May Sign Former Braves Slugger
On Feb. 5, The Athletic’s Katie Woo reported that the Pirates were showing interest in Atlanta Braves free agent Marcell Ozuna.
Sports talk radio host 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi reported late the following evening that those talks were gaining traction.
“The Pirates are ‘getting closer’ to a deal with free agent designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. The interest is real. And signing him is a legit possibility,” Fillipponi said.
Ozuna would be a welcomed addition to the Pirates’ lineup simply because he brings power. The 21 home runs the former Braves slugger hit last season would have led Pittsburgh.
Oneil Cruz paced the Pirates in 2025 with 20 home runs. Bryan Reynolds was second with 16, and veteran Andrew McCutchen hit 13.
Signing Marcell Ozuna Could Create Lineup Questions
Woo did note that while Ozuna would provide an offensive boost, he could also create a lineup logjam.
“The Pirates’ lineup contains enough versatility to accommodate someone who profiles mostly as a DH, but things could get tricky,” Woo wrote. “A potential addition of Ozuna could alter playing time for Jake Mangum and Spencer Horwitz, who are projected to play left field and first base, respectively.”
Woo highlighted Horwitz’s ability to get on base and Mangum’s speed in the spacious left field at PNC Park as reasons they project for steady roles.
“With someone like Ozuna at DH, Ryan O’Hearn, the club’s big free-agent signing, would likely split time between first base and left field,” Woo continued. “In right field, Bryan Reynolds isn’t going anywhere. Reynolds improved from a minus-5 fielding run value before the All-Star break to a plus-1 fielding run value after the All-Star break, per Baseball Savant.”
There’s also the matter of third base, which currently belongs to Jared Triolo.
“They could use more thump in the middle of the order whether it’s with someone like Ozuna at DH or a trade candidate at third base,” Woo wrote. “As things stand, Jared Triolo profiles as the Pirates’ third baseman, but he could be a utility player with an ability to play all four infield positions.”
If Pittsburgh is serious about ending its postseason drought, adding another middle-of-the-order bat may be necessary — even if it means reshuffling roles.
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