The Pittsburgh Pirates are running out of excuses—and maybe even out of patience. After a quiet offseason that felt more like hibernation than preparation, the 2025 season looms with more questions than answers. With the NL Central heating up and Pittsburgh refusing to chase big bats in the market, the pressure is on. Can this homegrown squad step up and silence the doubters, or are the Pirates sailing toward yet another season of frustration?

The Pirates’ biggest issue remains power. Instead of acquiring a reliable slugger, they settled for incremental moves like adding Spencer Horwitz, a high-contact, low-power bat. Meanwhile, teams around them bulked up their lineups. The Pirates’ decision to stand pat places enormous pressure on Bryan Reynolds and O’Neil Cruz to carry the offensive load.

The front office’s risky gamble on internal growth

Pirates insider Noah Hiles didn’t sugarcoat the situation. On a recent Foul Territory podcast, it stated, “They’re really lacking slug here, and you would hope that O’Neil Cruz gives you a little bit more in his second full big league season.” Highlighting the team’s overreliance on potential rather than production. The sentiment is clear—the Pirates are taking a massive gamble on struggling hitters rebounding rather than addressing their power shortage through outside acquisitions.

Moreover, the struggles of Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis in 2024 only magnify the problem. Once counted on for power, Suwinski managed just nine home runs after back-to-back 20-homer seasons, ultimately finishing the year in Triple-A. Davis, expected to be a future cornerstone, failed to find consistency at the plate. The Pirates now need major turnarounds from both to avoid another season of offensive mediocrity.

The front office’s inaction also assumes a fully healthy Ke’Bryan Hayes, a player whose offensive ceiling remains a mystery. Despite his Gold Glove defense, injuries have repeatedly stunted his growth at the plate. When healthy in the second half of 2023, Hayes showed promise, but 2024 saw him regress due to lingering health issues. Expecting him to suddenly break out without additional lineup protection is a risky bet.

The Pirates have left their fate in the hands of players who struggled last season. If Suwinski, Davis, and Hayes fail to take a step forward, the team will once again find itself near the bottom in runs scored. Without external reinforcements, this lineup must prove it can deliver—or risk another season of missed opportunities.

Could the Pirates look for midseason help?

If the Pirates offense keeps having challenges in the first part of the season, the management might need to rethink their strategy at the trade deadline. Even though they didn’t go for a hitter during the offseason, they could look into making some midseason moves to fix this problem—as long as they’re still in the running. Players like Jack Suwinski, Henry Davis, and O’Neil Cruz must show real improvement for Pittsburgh to justify standing pat. If not, the team may have no choice but to target a proven slugger to bolster the lineup.

However, the Pirates’ decision to make acquisitions before the deadline hinges on factors such as their standing in the NL Central and their willingness to increase payroll. In the past, Pittsburgh has been cautious about making moves during the season. Also, the emergence of promising talents like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones in the pitching rotation gives them a real shot at contending for a playoff berth. If the offense remains the primary obstacle, the front office must decide whether to act aggressively or risk wasting another year of promising development.

At last, without outside reinforcements, this season will be a true test of whether Pittsburgh’s current core is built to contend or destined to disappoint.