Perrotto: Pirates’ Future Brighter Than Many Think

The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded their 2026 season with an 82-80 record, falling short of their goal to reach the postseason. The team finished 21 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and six games out of an NL wild-card berth, extending their playoff drought to 11 consecutive seasons dating back to 2015.

Despite missing the playoffs, the Pirates recorded an 11-win improvement over their 71-91 mark from the previous season. This marked Pittsburgh's first winning season since 2018 and only their fifth since 1992, leading columnist John Perrotto to argue that general manager Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly should return for the 2027 season.