Pittsburgh Pirates fans are tired of mediocracy. The National League Central club has not made the postseason since 2015 and rarely spends significant money during free agency to improve the roster.
General manager Ben Cherington is under fire for continuing to hurt the franchise with questionable signings and a reluctance to trade veterans on one-year contracts. At this year’s trade deadline, Pittsburgh held on to infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and starting pitcher Andrew Heaney despite the possibility of acquiring minor league talent in return.
Kiner-Falefa and Heaney will finish the 2025 season in different uniforms as the Pirates placed each of them on waivers. Will outfielder Jack Suwinski suffer the same fate as his former teammates? It may be too late to acquire someone of value for the struggling 27-year-old.
Jack Suwinski’s Hitting Numbers are Dreary
The Pirates acquired Suwinski from the San Diego Padres in 2021, and he showed promise at the plate in 2023, hitting 26 home runs with a 113 OPS+ in 543 plate appearances. Since then, his performance has been below average and frustrating for the Pittsburgh faithful.
“Baseball is a results-driven game, and Suwinski’s 2025 numbers leave little room for optimism. In fact, his .132 batting average this season ranks among the lowest for Pirates hitters with significant at-bats, and his .525 OPS sits far below league-average production,” ClutchPoints’ Yasmin Edanol wrote on September 2. “Furthermore, his -0.1 WAR shows that his on-field contributions have actually hurt the team more than they’ve helped.”
Sure, Suwinski’s expected batting average is .204 this year, but that number would still be at the bottom of MLB if he qualified. The lefty hitter has been on the 10-day injured list since August 29 with a right groin strain.
“While Suwinski’s raw power remains intriguing, his declining plate discipline and inability to make consistent contact expose deeper developmental issues,” wrote Edanol. “Ultimately, for a team striving to become competitive again, his struggles have simply become too costly to overlook.”
What Teams Could Show Interest in Jack Suwinski?
While Suwinski’s trade value is at an all-time low, at least a few teams might want to take a chance on a player who does not reach free agency until 2029.
“At the same time, teams with deeper lineups and less immediate pressure to produce, such as the [Seattle] Mariners or [Cleveland] Guardians, might view Suwinski as a low-cost reclamation project,” wrote Edanol.
The Pirates may prefer that one of their emerging prospects take over Suwinski’s spot in the outfield in 2026.
The Pirates‘ offseason presents the perfect opportunity for the team to reset and maximize Suwinski’s remaining value,” Edanol added. Therefore, trading him now would allow the Pirates to free up roster space for promising young outfield prospects. Moreover, these players are ready to contribute at the major league level.”
The Pirates Need to Improve the Roster
The Pirates made it clear at the deadline that Cy Young candidate Paul Skenes was unavailable, but the organization is running out of time to show the right-hander they are ready to compete.
Nearly the entire league will be chomping to entice Skenes to come to their club by the time he becomes a free agent in 2030, or he may force a trade if he’s unhappy.
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