This season is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They’ve had their best offseason in years, which has raised hopes and expectations that they can compete for a playoff spot in 2026.
The Pirates are aiming for their first playoff berth since 2015 and their first winning season since 2018, so there’s a lot to live up to this year, especially with Paul Skenes fresh off his first career Cy Young Award and top prospect Konnor Griffin getting ready for his MLB debut.
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Pittsburgh is also trying to keep its franchise record above .500. The Buccaneers finished last in the NFC Central with a 71-91 record. This brings their all-time record down to 10,910-10,910.
It’s been a long time since Pittsburgh finished a season with a franchise record below .500, but the team has been heading in that direction for decades. The Buccaneers are coming off seven straight losing seasons and have a losing record in 29 of the last 33 seasons, having struggled to build a sustainable winner since Barry Bonds left in 1992.
Pittsburgh hopes to reverse that trend in 2026, counting on new players like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn to provide a boost, while also counting on returning stars like O’Neal Cruz and Bryan Reynolds to bounce back. If Griffin lives up to the hype, he could also have a major impact.
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Since the offseason is not over yet, the Buccaneers still have time to continue to replenish their roster. But for now, they appear poised for their best season in years.
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