Attending MLB's Winter Meetings is an event that holds a special place in the baseball calendar. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with various professionals in the baseball world and gain valuable insider information. This year, held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, the question on everyone's mind was what the Buccos would do during the winter. With 37 years of covering baseball in the market, it's no surprise that people were interested in the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the general manager's admission that there might not be a lot of activity this winter raised some eyebrows.

Payroll and Free Agent Market

The Pirates are not expected to significantly increase their payroll this winter. General manager Ben Cherington has stated that they may not sign any free agents until after the holidays. Given the faster-moving free agent market in recent winters, it seems the Pirates will have to sift through the leftovers before making any moves. This has led many in the industry to question their strategy.Despite finishing 76-86 for the second consecutive season in 2024, many baseball people believe the Pirates are close to contending for a postseason berth. The division has no dominant teams, and with some modest offensive upgrades, they could make a run at the National League Central title. The Pirates traded for first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who had a.355 on-base percentage with the Toronto Blue Jays over the past two seasons. While this will help, they still need a power-hitting right fielder.

Urgency and Future Prospects

There is a sense of urgency among many in the industry for the Pirates to make at least one significant move this winter. Right-handers Paul Skenes and Jared Jones are likely to pitch for the Pirates for three more seasons before becoming too expensive in the salary arbitration process and potentially getting traded. This is not a long window of contention, especially for a franchise that last reached the World Series in 1979 and won a postseason series in that year.General manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton are under pressure. Owner Bob Nutting and club president Travis Williams rarely communicate with the media, adding to the uncertainty. However, they receive sympathy from many in the industry as they are in a difficult situation, constrained by an owner who consistently keeps the team's payroll among the bottom five.The fans are the biggest losers in this situation. Over and over, it was expressed how Pittsburgh is a great city with passionate fans who often get the short end of the stick. There are even four billboards in Pittsburgh urging Nutting to sell the team, and many people agree that it might be a good idea.