Paul Skenes picking up All-MLB buzz again isn’t news. It’s just the Tuesday forecast at this point.
The man struck out 200 batters and still finished 9-11. That tells you everything about who was pitching behind him, not about him.
The real offseason question for Ben Cherington is standing a few lockers down, and it’s Nick Gonzales.
Gonzales hit .302 in 2026 — the best mark on the roster — and the organization still hasn’t settled where he plays long-term. A .302 hitter without a locked-in position isn’t a problem you figure out in spring training. It’s the kind of loose end that turns an 82-80 season, Pittsburgh’s first winning record since 2018, into an 11th straight year watching the playoffs from the outside.
Brandon Lowe makes it messier. He led the team with 35 home runs, 96 RBI and an .824 OPS. Jared Jones told reporters this week he wants Lowe back: he thinks this roster can win 90-95 games next season. Cherington doesn’t get to make that call in a vacuum, either. Eric Hagman asked the question the fanbase is already chewing on:
So if #pirates actually offered Kyle Schwarber, who is 33, a 4-year, $125m contract, why wouldn’t they do likewise for Brandon Lowe, who won’t turn 33 until next July?
— Eric Hagman (@esh714) September 29, 2026
If the Pirates are willing to offer Kyle Schwarber four years and $125 million at 33, what’s the case for not doing the same for Lowe, who doesn’t turn 33 until next July?
Nobody’s answered that one yet. Here’s the rest of the picture Cherington is staring at this winter:
The offensive leaders for the 2026 Pirates:
AVG: Nick Gonzales, .302
OPS: Brandon Lowe, .824
HR: Brandon Lowe, 35
RBI: Brandon Lowe, 96
BB: Bryan Reynolds, 89
SB: Oneil Cruz, 30I’d say Brandon Lowe returning is pretty important. pic.twitter.com/1cF5fU0sDP
— SleeperPirates (@SleeperPirates) September 28, 2026
Gonzales tops the average column. Lowe owns nearly every other column that matters. Solving this takes four or five things breaking right at once, not one clean fix in free agency.
Skenes is going to be great again next year. Nobody’s losing sleep over that.
Gonzales’ position, Lowe’s price tag, and whatever Cherington decides about both of them — that’s the actual offseason. Skenes was NEVER the hard part.
