The stove isn't just hot in Pittsburgh right now; it’s basically glowing. For years, being a Pirates fan during the winter meant checking the waiver wire for "reclamation projects" or watching fan favorites get shipped off for a bucket of balls and a teenage shortstop from the Florida Complex League. But 2026 feels different. Honestly, it’s a little weird.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. The Bucs actually swung big. They reportedly offered Kyle Schwarber somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million. They were in on Josh Naylor for $80 million. They missed on both, sure, but the fact that Ben Cherington is even picking up the phone to talk about those numbers is a massive shift in how this front office operates. It’s not just about "competitive windows" anymore. It’s about the fact that Paul Skenes is a generational monster, and you can't waste his rookie-contract years.
The 3B Conundrum: Why the Baseball Trade Rumors Pirates Fans See Are Getting Messy
The biggest hole on the roster is staring everyone in the face: third base. Ever since Ke'Bryan Hayes was traded to the Reds at last year's deadline, the hot corner has been a revolving door of "fine, I guess."
Jared Triolo is an elite defender. We know this. But can you really start a season with a guy who might hit .230? Cherington has been public about wanting to add to the left side of the infield. The rumor mill keeps spitting out Eugenio Suarez and Yoan Moncada. Suarez is the dream for fans—power is the one thing this lineup lacks—but he’s going to be expensive and likely wants more years than the Pirates are comfortable giving a veteran.
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Then there’s the Moncada connection. Remember, Cherington was the guy who gave Moncada that massive $31.5 million bonus back when they were both in Boston. There’s history there. Moncada had a bit of a pulse in 2025, and a platoon between him and Triolo is the kind of "value play" this front office loves. Is it sexy? No. Does it solve the problem? Maybe for six months.
The "Under the Radar" Trade Targets
If the Pirates decide to stop waiting on free agents who use them as leverage for bigger deals, they have the prospect capital to get aggressive. Some names that are currently making the rounds in scouting circles:
- Addison Barger: The Blue Jays have a logjam, and Barger has the kind of versatile "super-utility" profile that the Pirates crave.
- Alec Bohm: This is the "big swing" rumor. If the Phillies decide they need to shake things up or if they find a different solution at third, could Joey Bart be the centerpiece of a deal heading back to Philly? It's a long shot, but it's the kind of move that would actually signal the Pirates are done being a farm system for the rest of the league.
- Willy Adames: Just kidding. Let's stay realistic.
Who is Actually on the Move?
You can't get talent without giving it up. That's the part that hurts. After trading Johan Oviedo to the Red Sox to land Jhostynxon Garcia (an 80-grade name if I've ever seen one), the rotation depth is a bit thinner than it was in November.
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The biggest name consistently mentioned in baseball trade rumors pirates circles is Mitch Keller. It sounds crazy. Why would you trade your most reliable veteran arm when you're trying to win?
Money.
Keller is set to make $16.5 million this year. In "Nutting Dollars," that’s a fortune. If the Pirates think they can replace his innings with a combination of Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and maybe a veteran lefty like Gregory Soto (who they already signed), they might try to flip Keller for a middle-of-the-order bat. Personally? I think it’s a mistake. You don't trade a sure thing for a "maybe" when your rotation is led by a 23-year-old. But this is Pittsburgh. You have to account for the spreadsheet.
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The Konnor Griffin Factor
Everything the Pirates do right now is overshadowed by one 19-year-old: Konnor Griffin.
He is arguably the best prospect in baseball. He went 20/60 in the minors last year. He looks like a video game character. The rumors aren't about trading him—he's untouchable—but about how his arrival dictates the rest of the infield. If Griffin is ready by June, do you really want to block him with a high-priced veteran shortstop? Probably not. That’s why you’re seeing the Pirates focus so heavily on third base and the outfield. They’re clearing a path for the kid.
The Payroll Reality Check
Let’s talk numbers because they actually matter this year. The Pirates' payroll is projected to be around $100 million. For most teams, that’s a rounding error. For Pittsburgh, it’s one of the highest marks in franchise history.
They’ve already added Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn. Lowe brings legit pop to second base, and O'Hearn is a professional hitter who doesn't care about the dimensions of PNC Park. They’re "high-floor" moves. They aren't going to win you a World Series on their own, but they prevent the 10-game losing streaks that usually tank the Pirates' season by mid-May.
The real question is whether they have one more "impact" move in them. Cherington says they aren't done. He sounds confident. But we’ve heard that before. The difference now is the pressure. With the NL Central looking wide open and the pitching staff they've assembled, "next year" has finally become "this year."
Actionable Next Steps for Fans Following the Rumors:
- Watch the "Secondary" Market: Don't get hung up on the Cody Bellingers of the world. The Pirates thrive in the trade market for guys with 2-3 years of control left.
- Monitor the Waiver Wire: As teams trim their 40-man rosters for Spring Training, the Pirates are almost certain to snag a veteran reliever or a backup catcher.
- Keep an eye on Bubba Chandler: His performance in the first two weeks of Spring Training will determine if the Pirates feel comfortable trading another veteran starter for a bat.
The next few weeks will tell us exactly who this team thinks they are. Are they a 78-win team that’s happy to be "relevant," or are they actually going to build a lineup that deserves the rotation they have? We're about to find out.