Boasting one of the best young duos on the mound in Paul Skenes and Jared Jones won’t mean much for the Pittsburgh Pirates if they can’t score more runs next season.

Adding to the offense is among Pirates general manager Ben Cherington’s top priorities. He also noted that it wouldn’t be as simple as signing free agents for the Pirates.

‘We need to score more points,’ Cherington told GM meetings in San Antonio, TX. “It’s a combination of our own inside position players taking a step forward and finding a way to add to that base.”

Pittsburgh was among the worst offenses in the league last season, ranking bottom 10 in nearly every major category at the plate.

Internal growth would mean players like Ke’Bryan Hayes return to form after a disappointing 2024 season. The Pirates third baseman hit just four home runs and had 25 RBIs while slashing .233/.283/.290. Hayes has shown himself capable of being a solid player at the plate in the past, as he hit 15 homers and drove in 61 runs while slashing .271/.309/.453.

The return of former prospect Endy Rodríguez could also be part of Cherington’s hoped-for boost. The 24-year-old catcher hit 25 homers and drove in 95 runs in his final full season in the minor leagues in 2022. Rodríguez made one appearance in the major leagues in 2023, hitting three home runs and driving in 13 runs while slashing. .220/.284.328 through 57 games.

He missed almost all of last season with a torn UCL and has only appeared in 10 minor league games in 2024.

If Pittsburgh really wants to be a part of the mix in the NL Central, it needs to add a proven bat or two to the mix rather than relying entirely on the growth of the players it currently has. Someone like a first baseman Christian Walker could be perfect for the Pirates, but whether they’ll be willing to open the checkbook for a player of his caliber seems unlikely given the franchise’s history in free agency.

THE Pirates They can’t afford to stick with the status quo if they want to get the most out of having Skenes and Jones alongside Mitch Keller in their rotation. If Cherington ends up holding on this offseason, Pittsburgh could very well be setting themselves up for another disappointing season.

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