ESPN just raised the stakes for Pirates’ most important offseason in years

ESPN placed the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 9 in their early 2027 power rankings following an 11-win improvement in 2026. David Schoenfield highlighted the breakout potential of young players such as Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez, along with a projected rotation boost from Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, and Jared Jones.

Writer Stephen Parello argues that general manager Ben Cherington cannot rely solely on internal player development. Parello contends that the Pirates must actively address roster holes at catcher and in the bullpen, while retaining veteran contributors like Brandon Lowe to avoid regression under rising expectations.