{"id":109483,"date":"2025-11-13T22:44:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T03:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=109483"},"modified":"2025-11-13T22:44:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T03:44:57","slug":"pirates-to-increase-spending-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/11\/13\/pirates-to-increase-spending-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Rumors of Increased Pirates Spending Might Not Be as Crazy as You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is ready to go on a spending spree to improve his 2026 team. This, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal, in an interview with Foul Territory.<\/p>\n

\"Ben
Jun 5, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington speaks on the phone in the dugout before the Pirates host the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Feinsand\u2019s sources estimate the Pirates could spend in the range of $30-40 million this offseason. Rosenthal speculates this could come in the form of free agency or assuming big contracts in trades. Did Rosenthal perhaps tie his patented bow tie too tight and stop the flow of oxygen to his brain? Well, his shirt was open at the collar when he said it:<\/p>\n

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The Marlins and Pirates are telling agents they’d like to be aggressive and spend a little bit, says @Ken_Rosenthal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“That can be in free agency, or it can be in the matter of taking on salaries in trades.” pic.twitter.com\/R5aAqrIVa2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Look Out! Pirates to Go on Spending Spree for 2026?<\/h2>\n

Given their history under owner Bob Nutting, Pirates fans will be rightfully skeptical until the rumors are backed up by action. What fueled the speculation was a remark Cherington made to Robert Murray of FanSided, to the effect that the Pirates have \u201cmore flexibility than we\u2019ve had in other offseasons than I\u2019ve been in Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without predicting what Cherington will do, we\u2019ll look at past spending, salaries shed with this past season\u2019s trades, salaries that could potentially be shed by non-tendering arbitration-eligible players, and one big salary that could be traded away. Then we\u2019ll look at who\u2019s available and what they would cost, based on predictions by MLB Trade Rumors. We\u2019ll use their projections because they\u2019re often reasonably accurate, and I\u2019m too lazy to make my own.<\/p>\n

Free(d) Money<\/h3>\n

Last season, the Pirates committed $21.1 million to seven free agents. None of them will be back in 2026, with the possible exception of Andrew McCutchen<\/a>, who was paid $5 million for the third consecutive year<\/a> since his return. That\u2019s no slam dunk, however. \u201cCutch\u201d recently turned 39 and just saw his OPS decline for the second straight season. His stat line of .239\/.333\/367, 13 HR, and 57 RBI was below average for a designated hitter. His encore with Pittsburgh has been a feel-good story, but the Pirates need more than warm and fuzzy feelings to contend in 2026. The franchise icon may be asked to play a lesser role for less money in 2026. Let\u2019s assume they split the difference and McCutchen returns for $2.5 million.<\/p>\n