Where are Pittsburgh Pirates in the latest MLB power rankings?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of the offseason, but there is some optimism surrounding the team going into the winter.
Let’s take a look at where they are ranked in power rankings across the internet:
ESPN.com, David Schoenfield: 20, up 4
Paul Skenes will enter 2025 as the likely Cy Young favorite in the National League following his absurdly good rookie season. Jared Jones also flashed top-of-the-rotation potential, especially in the first half. Top prospect Bubba Chandler could make a similar impact in the rotation for 2025 and Nick Yorke, acquired from the Red Sox, should help out somewhere, whether at second base or in a utility role. The late-season decision to move Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field makes sense, although it solves one hole while opening another. The Pirates need to figure out what happened to Ke’Bryan Hayes at the plate (.573 OPS) and how to upgrade the bullpen after David Bednar’s collapse. As always, tightfisted ownership will make it difficult for the Pirates to improve.
The Athletic, C. Trent Rosecrans: 20, up 4
The names on the Pirates’ free agent list would’ve made headlines a decade ago, but Andrew McCutchen, Aroldis Chapman and Yasmani Grandal are all at points in their careers where they signed one-year deals with Pittsburgh last offseason. The future in Pittsburgh is their youth, and their young arms are incredible enough to push the Pirates to 20th on this list despite a really bad lineup. Paul Skenes will be in the Cy Young Award conversation in 2025. Mitch Keller is coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons. Jared Jones and top prospect Bubba Chandler have huge talent, too.
Bleacher Report, Zachary D. Rymer: 22
The Reds and Pirates can likewise look at this season as a step in the right direction.
Pittsburgh gets a tip of the hat for letting Paul Skenes pitch, resulting in the first sub-2.00 ERA by a rookie starter in the live-ball era. Cincinnati got to see Elly De La Cruz rack up 71 extra-base hits and 67 stolen bases, as well as Hunter Greene pitch like a No. 1 when he was healthy.
BD community, what do you think of the rankings? Too high or too low? Chime off in the comments below.