By some significant measures, the Pirates had a successful 2026 season. But Bucco fans are still sitting out the playoffs, and for the eleventh straight year. Only the Angels have a longer drought, twelve years since they made the postseason.
Yesterday, though, the Pirates completed their first winning season since 2018, with a remarkable young pitcher completing a comeback year on the mound with another dominating performance, and their rookie sensation shortstop leading the way.
Joe Block has the recap.
On the final Pirates Insider on WCCS, general manager Ben Cherington talked about the coming offseason and the steps the Pirates need to take to make it into the playoffs next season.
Cherington said Donnie Kelly is a key component.
The GM would love to have pending free agent Brandon Lowe return to the Bucs after a 35-home run season, but admitted that there’s big money out there for Lowe and it won’t be easy. Still, he believes Lowe loves it in Pittsburgh.
Bryan Reynolds became only the tenth Pirates player all-time, the seventh in the modern era, to play every game in a season. Reynolds is the first Bucco to play all 162 games since Jason Bay in 2005.
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