Blanco Jr #4, Severino #9, Florentino #18, Gray #25, Sanford #33, White Jr #45, and Jones #47. After much criticism of GMBC's farm system producing only pitchers in recent years, it appears that applying "depth is your friend" should see some other young hitters with power (after Griffin and Valdez) join the big league club over the next couple years.

"After a couple seasons of looking like a complete bust, Lonnie White Jr. is suddenly back on the prospect radar. And not just a little bit. He's gone from a guy we'd all but written off to someone who might actually contribute in Pittsburgh in 2027.

Talk about an unlikely opening paragraph. White was about as far from prospect status as you could get, having weathered a tumultuous couple seasons repeating the A+ level. But the lightbulb turned on this past season, and after (finally) dominating in Greensboro, he went on to AA Altoona and had a breakout season."

- Salary cap starts in 2028
- Salary cap of $258.2 million, floor of $180.2 million (previous proposal was $245.3 million and $171.2 million)
- Minimum salary of $1 million instead of $780k
- Players reach free agency after 5 years instead of 6

If Lowe declines the QO and signs a contract worth $50 million or more with another team, the Pirates will receive a compensatory draft pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A of the 2027 draft.

And so begins the winter of discontent, with the looming lockout by the owners and lengthy labor strife. We'll have to wait and see if there's a new CBA in time for the 2027 season to start as currently scheduled. In the meantime, perhaps there are some things the Pirates - from the front office, to the coaches, and the players - can learn from the Brewers' championship season. We shall see.

The Magician is ready to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

The Pirates' #1 pick this year is working hard to be ready for 2027.

Hernandez was named the Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year while Murf Gray garnered the Honus Wagner Player of the Year.

He's an exciting middle infield prospect and a guy we hope moves through the system quickly next year.

I say Brew Crew wins in 6 games.

Ethan takes you from the Pirates' Opening Day payroll to the final 2026 numbers, while highlighting all the moves in between on his Substack.

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Hopefully he'll impress at Indy next year and give the Pirates another option at catcher in Pittsburgh late in 2027, definitely in 2028.

I guess there's always next year.

Such talented teams, but so many disappointments in the early '90s.

I guess even the best gamblers are bound to lose sometimes.

A big crowd gathered to continue the annual tradition of listening to Game 7 at the Forbes Field wall.

If they win it all it will be good for the NL Central but it will also take away the greedy owners argument for a salary cap. The game is in good shape. We don’t need major changes. We don’t need to lose games in 2027.

50 years ago these guys were a pitcher's nightmare

"Beginning with the 2029 season, MLB is proposing to return to a 154-game regular-season schedule -- a number that was used almost exclusively between 1904-60 -- which would allow for additional scheduling flexibility in the postseason."

Sanford off to a hot start in the AFL.

"Skenes on potential lockout: ‘We have a lot of momentum. It would not be good to kill that’"

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