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Bucs Dugout

https://www.bucsdugout.com/ | 101 entries published

An unofficial Pittsburgh Pirates blog

Latest Entries

Where are Pirates in MLB power rankings after free agency?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to be a better ballclub in 2026 after finishing last place in the NL Central standings in 2025. The Pirates made moves to boost their offense, which should help aid a pitching staff led by Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes. Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter conducted power rankings and […]

about 9 hours ago | 0 reads

Multiple key players to miss PiratesFest due to expected bad weather

The upcoming winter weather that could dump a foot of snow in Pittsburgh has caused a major shift for the Pirates’ fan fest this weekend.  PiratesFest 2026 is taking place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Saturday, but will be without many key faces on a potentially promising roster. The Pirates announced on […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Pirates get mixed grades for offseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to the end of their offseason, which has been busy to say the least. The Pirates have done a decent job acquiring offensive talent, including Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, among others. Some members of the Bucs Dugout staff put their two cents in on the team’s grade for the […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Jared Jones on track for early 2026 return for Pirates

There’s no doubting that one of the main strengths of the Pittsburgh Pirates is their starting pitching. It looks like that unit will be even stronger this season with the impending return of Jared Jones. In 2024, Jones went 6-8 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.192 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 121 innings and looked one […]

MLB

3 days ago | 0 reads

Report: Pirates still in pursuit of third baseman

The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a successful offseason. There’s not too many out there that wouldn’t grade their moves relatively highly. However, there’s more work still to be done, and the Bucs have a glaring need at third base, where the current depth chart lists Jared Triolo as the only one currently on the roster. […]

4 days ago | 0 reads

Pirates offseason still incomplete weeks before Spring Training

The Pittsburgh Pirates are less than a month away from reporting to Bradenton to get ready for the upcoming 2026 season. The team looks a little different than it did a year ago, but some changes are still to be made. ESPN contributor Jesse Rogers wrote about what the Pirates have done this off-season and […]

MLB

5 days ago | 0 reads

The Pirates are part of a Opening Day doubleheader on NBC

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets are set to play against each other opening day at Citi Field. They are going to be a part of a Primetime Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 on NBC and Peacock. This marks the network’s return to Major League Baseball, as the Mets will host the Pirates […]

5 days ago | 0 reads

Pirates sign two Top 25 international prospects, 23 others to begin signing period

The Pittsburgh Pirates landed two of the top international prospects in all of baseball this week. On Thursday, the Pirates announced that they signed 25 players to begin the 2026 International Signing Period.  Included in the class were two athletes from the Dominican Republic who ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 Prospects list. Pittsburgh acquired […]

7 days ago | 0 reads

Pirates will face Bo Bichette in his Mets debut

The Pittsburgh Pirates are counting down the days before Opening Day, when they will face off against the New York Mets at Citi Field. However, the Pirates’ job to beat the Mets in the first game of the season may have gotten a little more challenging after the team signed Toronto Blue Jays star Bo […]

8 days ago | 0 reads

Pirates Prospect Update: Pair of Young Bucs ranked among best pitching prospects

MLB Pipeline just released their list of the top ten right-handed pitching prospects and two of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects made the list. Bubba Chandler was ranked as the second best righty pitcher just behind Nolan McLean and Seth Hernandez was ranked at five. The Pirates’ pipeline of pitching prospects has been one of […]

MLB

9 days ago | 0 reads

Pirates announce 2026 MLB Spring Training dates

It’s been a Pittsburgh winter this year, definitely colder and more precipitation than in years past, and I’m pretty much over winter at this point. Which makes it all that more special that the Pittsburgh Pirates released their 2026 MLB Spring Training dates yesterday. We’re only roughly three weeks from pitchers and catchers, y’all, as […]

10 days ago | 1 read

Pirates urged to trade Mitch Keller to AL West team

The Pittsburgh Pirates are led by Paul Skenes in the rotation, but there is trade value beyond him that other teams could count on. Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter suggested a trade that would send Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller to the Athletics for outfielder Colby Thomas, shortstop Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, and utility player Brennan Milone. […]

10 days ago | 2 reads

Pirates deal Chase Shugart to Phillies

The Pittsburgh Pirates shed some weight from their bullpen by trading right-handed-pitcher Chase Shugart to the Philadelphia Phillies. Shugart was drafted in in the 12th round of the MLB Draft in 2018 by the Red Sox, and has some seen some playing time in the Major Leagues over the past two seasons in both Boston […]

11 days ago | 1 read

Ben Cherington ‘Not Satisfied’ just yet with Pirates offseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still looking to strike while the iron is hot on this offseason and continue to add pieces to their club. General Manager Ben Cherington said this offseason has been positive to this point as they work towards building a better lineup for 2026. “We have several weeks between now and opening […]

12 days ago | 2 reads

Pirates should go all in, sign Cody Bellinger away from Yankees

The Pittsburgh Pirates are showing a bit more aggression in free agency this offseason by making some signings and trades to help improve the offense. Adding players like Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Ryan O’Hearn shows an initiative to be better on offense. The team has also been connected to New York Yankees outfielder Cody […]

12 days ago | 2 reads

Despite improvements, Pirates still long odds to win NL Central

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not won the National League Central since the division’s formation in 1994. The Milwaukee Brewers have controlled the division lately, winning it the last three years in a row.   Last year, three teams from the NL Central made it to the playoffs. The Cincinnati Reds were bounced in the Wild Card […]

13 days ago | 1 read

Pirates projected starting rotation may have promise beyond Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation is headlined by third-year pro Paul Skenes, who has taken the league by storm since he entered as a rookie in 2024. The Pirates also have Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler as the three likeliest pitchers behind Skenes, but there’s a chance the team could add a left-handed […]

13 days ago | 2 reads

SB Nation Reacts results: Grade the Pirates offseason so far

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. This week’s question asked you to grade the Bucco’s offseason so far. It’s not over yet, and there […]

16 days ago | 2 reads

Pirates batting order has question marks

The Pittsburgh Pirates are just a few weeks away from the start of Spring Training in Bradenton, so it’s time to wonder what the team will look like for the 2026 MLB season. Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter came up with a projection for what he thinks the Opening Day lineup will look like on […]

17 days ago | 3 reads

Pirates named as ‘mystery’ team for Cody Bellinger pursuit

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been firing on all cylinders this offseason in order to strengthen what was a last place offense in 2025. The acquisition of Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum and the signing of Ryan O’Hearn already puts them in a much better spot ahead of the 2026 season. Many believe that the Pirates […]

18 days ago | 3 reads

VOTE: Grade the Pirates offseason so far

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. This week’s question is asking you to give a grade to the Pittsburgh Pirates offseason so […]

18 days ago | 2 reads

Pirates interested in signing Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suárez

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping to improve their infield in 2026. While they have made some moves to already help with that by trading for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, there is more that can be done. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Jason Mackey is reporting that the Pirates are interested in signing Seattle Mariners […]

MLB

19 days ago | 1 read

MLB insider says Pirates among MLB’s most improved farm systems

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have a whole lot of success on the field in 2025 but the future is very bright in the steel city. Pittsburgh had a few of their prospects finally make their mark in 2025, with pitchers like Braxton Ashcraft, Hunter Barco, Mike Burrows and Bubba Chandler. The Pirates will be going […]

MLB

20 days ago | 1 read

Pirates miss out on Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to pivot to new options at third base. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Japanese third baseman Kuzuma Okamoto is signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. Okamoto’s posting window was set to close at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported earlier on Saturday that the Pirates were […]

21 days ago | 11 reads

Pirates begin New Year still without Andrew McCutchen

It has been an absolute joy getting to see Andrew McCutchen rejoin the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023 after playing elsewhere for five seasons. McCutchen has been signing one-year deals in the offseason over the last couple of seasons, but now as the Pirates are investing in their lineup more than ever he remains unsigned with […]

22 days ago | 3 reads