Pirates Seek Hitting Improvement via Pitching Depth

The Pittsburgh Pirates are considering leveraging their pitching depth to improve their struggling offense ahead of the 2025 season, as general manager Ben Cherington hinted at using pitchers in trades for established hitters. Despite their solid pitching prospects like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, the Pirates ranked in the bottom-10 for hitting last season, highlighting their need for offensive upgrades. Meanwhile, the MLB free agency market is rich with starting pitching talent, with Corbin Burnes emerging as a top target after a stellar season, potentially drawing interest from teams like the New York Yankees. Max Fried is another prominent pitcher expected to decline the Braves' qualifying offer, making him a sought-after free agent, with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles among the teams likely to pursue him. The evolving NFL landscape has also seen a shift in the value of pass catchers, with teams like the Philadelphia Eagles boasting a formidable trio of receivers in A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, making them a leading contender in this aspect. This year, teams will have to balance star power with depth in their rosters as they strategize for postseason success.