The MLB trade deadline showed that Ben Cherington has learned a valuable lesson.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' General Manager has found out the hard way in 2026 that a team cannot go into a season with serious hopes of contending unless it has proven options at the backend of the bullpen.
It's easy to wonder what the Pirates' record might be and where they would be in the standings with just an average corps of relief pitchers. As it is, the Pirates are 57-57 and three games out in the National League wild card race despite their arsonist-like bullpen.
Yet the Pirates are still in the hunt for their first postseason berth since 2015. Cherington tried to bolster those playoff hopes on Monday when he traded for three relievers – the New York Mets' Luke Weaver, the Los Angeles Angels' Kirby Yates and the Miami Marlins' Lake Bachar. That came two days after the Pirates acquired another relief pitcher, Camilo Doval, from the New York Yankees.
Cherington couldn't fill all the Pirates' needs on Monday as he failed to land a starting pitcher and left-handed hitter. However, he took the weakest part of the roster and turned it into what should be a strong point by trading for the four right-handers.
#relief
The Pittsburgh Pirates' General Manager has found out the hard way in 2026 that a team cannot go into a season with serious hopes of contending unless it has proven options at the backend of the bullpen.
It's easy to wonder what the Pirates' record might be and where they would be in the standings with just an average corps of relief pitchers. As it is, the Pirates are 57-57 and three games out in the National League wild card race despite their arsonist-like bullpen.
Yet the Pirates are still in the hunt for their first postseason berth since 2015. Cherington tried to bolster those playoff hopes on Monday when he traded for three relievers – the New York Mets' Luke Weaver, the Los Angeles Angels' Kirby Yates and the Miami Marlins' Lake Bachar. That came two days after the Pirates acquired another relief pitcher, Camilo Doval, from the New York Yankees.
Cherington couldn't fill all the Pirates' needs on Monday as he failed to land a starting pitcher and left-handed hitter. However, he took the weakest part of the roster and turned it into what should be a strong point by trading for the four right-handers.
#relief
4 days ago
