RRosternomics
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Pirates PIT

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GM: Ben Cherington

Overview

REBUILD → steady
cheap & losing · year 1 in this regime · payroll 0.6× league · TAB -6.9
-6.9TAB — talent above budget25th/30
+0.6WAB — realized wins (TAB + luck)17th/30
4.0depth — 2+ WAR regulars23rd/30
-6.9dead WAR — sub-replacement drag25th/30
56%dead money %25th/30
0.469win %23rd/30
21.1roster fWAR26th/30
-8surplus $M (value vs cost)15th/30
$98Mpayroll $M23rd/30

Roster

CFMichael A. Taylor 103GJack Suwinski 45GOneil Cruz 23G
LFBryan Reynolds 118GBryan De La Cruz 55GJack Suwinski 34G
RFBryan De La Cruz 47GEdward Olivares 45GConnor Joe 44G
SSOneil Cruz 112GIsiah Kiner-Falefa 43GAlika Williams 16G
2BNick Gonzales 85GIsiah Kiner-Falefa 56GJared Triolo 47G
3BKe'Bryan Hayes 96GJared Triolo 61GIsiah Kiner-Falefa 48G
1BRowdy Tellez 124GConnor Joe 79GJared Triolo 9G
STARTERSPaul Skenes 4.3WARMitch Keller 2.2WARJared Jones 1.8WARBailey Falter 1.7WARLuis Ortiz 0.9WAR
CYasmani Grandal 71GJoey Bart 69GHenry Davis 34G
DHAndrew McCutchen 113GBryan Reynolds 23GJoey Bart 11G
BULLPEN★ David Bednar 23svAroldis Chapman 22hColin Holderman 21hDennis Santana 12hJalen Beeks 8hKyle Nicolas 8hCarmen Mlodzinski 5hJoey Wentz 2h
CYasmani Grandal 71 · Joey Bart 69 · Henry Davis 34
1BRowdy Tellez 124 · Connor Joe 79 · Jared Triolo 9
2BNick Gonzales 85 · Isiah Kiner-Falefa 56 · Jared Triolo 47
3BKe'Bryan Hayes 96 · Jared Triolo 61 · Isiah Kiner-Falefa 48
SSOneil Cruz 112 · Isiah Kiner-Falefa 43 · Alika Williams 16
LFBryan Reynolds 118 · Bryan De La Cruz 55 · Jack Suwinski 34
CFMichael A. Taylor 103 · Jack Suwinski 45 · Oneil Cruz 23
RFBryan De La Cruz 47 · Edward Olivares 45 · Connor Joe 44
DHAndrew McCutchen 113 · Bryan Reynolds 23 · Joey Bart 11
SPPaul Skenes 4.3 · Mitch Keller 2.2 · Jared Jones 1.8 · Bailey Falter 1.7 · Luis Ortiz 0.9
BP★ David Bednar 23 · Aroldis Chapman 22 · Colin Holderman 21 · Dennis Santana 12 · Jalen Beeks 8 · Kyle Nicolas 8 · Carmen Mlodzinski 5 · Joey Wentz 2

Each position lists its starter then backups by games (so platoons & bench show). Starters (mound) & bullpen (left, foul territory) are ranked by WAR; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

2024 roster — value & surplus

PlayerAgeServiceGfWARSalary $MSurplus $M
Paul Skenes 22 pre-arb 234.3 0.7 +17.0
Oneil Cruz 25 arb 1463.6 0.8 +14.2
Bryan Reynolds 29 arb 1562.2 10.2 -1.2
Mitch Keller 28 arb 312.2 5.9 +3.1
Jared Jones 22 pre-arb 221.8 0.7 +6.6
Bailey Falter 27 arb 281.7 0.8 +6.2
Yasmani Grandal 35 FA-elig 721.3 2.5 +3.1
Nick Gonzales 25 pre-arb 941.3 0.7 +4.8
Joey Bart 27 arb 801.3 0.8 +4.8
Aroldis Chapman 36 FA-elig 681.1 10.5 -6.0
Dennis Santana↔ NYY 28 arb 391.0 0.3 +4.1
Luis Ortiz 25 pre-arb 370.9 0.7 +3.1
Hunter Stratton 27 pre-arb 360.7 0.8 +1.9
Carmen Mlodzinski 25 pre-arb 400.6 0.7 +1.8
Connor Joe 31 arb 1230.5 2.1 +0.1
Andrew McCutchen 37 FA-elig 1200.5 5.0 -2.9
Michael A. Taylor 33 FA-elig 1130.4 4.0 -2.2
Jared Triolo 26 pre-arb 1250.4 0.7 +1.0
Billy Cook 25 – 160.3 0.1 +1.2
Jalen Beeks↔ COL 30 FA-elig 260.3 0.6 +0.7
Martín Pérez↔ SDP 33 FA-elig 160.3 4.9 -3.8
Joey Wentz↔ DET 26 pre-arb 80.2 0.1 +0.9
Marco Gonzales 32 FA-elig 70.2 12.2 -11.4
Jake Woodford↔ CHW 27 arb 70.2 0.1 +0.7
Colin Holderman 28 pre-arb 550.1 0.8 -0.2
Ke'Bryan Hayes 27 arb 960.1 7.0 -6.5
Joshua Palacios 28 arb 230.1 0.7 -0.3
Kyle Nicolas 25 pre-arb 510.1 0.7 -0.3
Jason Delay 29 pre-arb 70.1 0.8 -0.3
Quinn Priester↔ BOS 23 pre-arb 100.0 0.7 -0.6
Isiah Kiner-Falefa↔ TOR 29 FA-elig 500.0 2.8 -2.7
Isaac Mattson 28 pre-arb 30.0 0.0 +0.0
Brent Honeywell↔ LAD 29 – 2-0.0 0.0 -0.0
Ryder Ryan 29 pre-arb 15-0.0 0.8 -0.9
Billy McKinney 29 arb 10-0.0 0.1 -0.3
Josh Fleming 28 arb 25-0.0 0.8 -1.0
Justin Bruihl 27 pre-arb 7-0.0 0.1 -0.2
Ryan Borucki 30 FA-elig 14-0.0 1.6 -1.8
Nick Yorke 22 – 11-0.1 0.7 -1.0
Daulton Jefferies↔ SFG 28 arb 4-0.1 0.5 -0.7
Brady Feigl 33 – 1-0.1 0.0 -0.3
Ben Heller 32 arb 8-0.1 0.2 -0.5
Grant Koch 27 – 3-0.1 0.0 -0.6
Mike Burrows 24 – 1-0.1 – –
Liover Peguero 23 pre-arb 3-0.1 0.7 -1.3
Roansy Contreras↔ ANA 24 arb 12-0.1 0.2 -0.8
David Bednar 29 arb 62-0.2 4.2 -4.9
Jose E. Hernandez 26 – 7-0.2 – –
Domingo Germán 31 arb 7-0.2 0.1 -1.0
Alika Williams 25 pre-arb 37-0.3 0.7 -2.0
Rowdy Tellez 29 FA-elig 132-0.5 3.2 -5.2
Ji Hwan Bae 24 pre-arb 29-0.7 0.8 -3.6
Henry Davis 24 pre-arb 37-0.7 0.7 -3.7
Edward Olivares 28 arb 55-0.9 1.4 -5.2
Bryan De La Cruz↔ MIA 27 arb 44-1.1 0.2 -4.6
Jack Suwinski 25 pre-arb 88-1.1 0.8 -5.5

Key additions (new vs 2023)

PlayerfWAR
Paul Skenes4.3
Jared Jones1.8
Yasmani Grandal1.3
Joey Bart1.3
Aroldis Chapman1.1
Dennis Santana1.0

Key subtractions (gone from 2023)

Player2023 fWAR
Rich Hill1.1
Austin Hedges0.9
Carlos Santana0.8
Osvaldo Bido0.7
Vince Velasquez0.7
Angel Perdomo0.5

Current & Historical Payroll

2024 payroll
$97.6M
2025 guaranteed
$29.9M

What the front office was committed to as of 2024, 2024–2030. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2024; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Guaranteed / signed (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
Marco Gonzales326.102$12.2MFREE AGENT
Aroldis Chapman3613.009$10.5MFREE AGENT
Bryan Reynolds294.163$10.2M$12.2M$14.2M$15.2M$15.2M$15.2M$15.2M
Ke'Bryan Hayes273.075$7.0M$2.3M$7.0M$7.0M$8.0M$8.0M$12.0MCLUB
Mitch Keller284.026$5.9M$15.4M$16.9M$18.4M$20.4MFREE AGENT
Andrew McCutchen3714.123$5.0MFREE AGENT
Martín Pérez3311.038$4.9MFREE AGENT
Michael A. Taylor3310.000$4.0MFREE AGENT
Rowdy Tellez296.000$3.2MFREE AGENT
Isiah Kiner-Falefa296.000$2.8MFREE AGENT
Yasmani Grandal3511.115$2.5MFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
David Bednar293.076$4.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Borucki305.066$1.6MFREE AGENT
Edward Olivares283.049$1.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Fleming284.000$850kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jalen Beeks305.003$613kFREE AGENT
Dennis Santana283.126$270kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ben Heller323.102$231kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryan De La Cruz273.000$227kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Domingo Germán315.017$107kFREE AGENT
Billy McKinney293.087$97kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jake Woodford273.048$90kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (34)

PlayerAgeSvc2024202520262027202820292030
Connor Joe312.136$2.1MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryder Ryan290.010$830kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Stratton270.028$800kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joey Bart272.020$770kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Delay291.095$755kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Suwinski251.118$755kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Colin Holderman281.144$755kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ji Hwan Bae242.000$755kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Oneil Cruz251.110$755kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bailey Falter271.138$755kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Henry Davis240.105$748kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carmen Mlodzinski250.108$748kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luis Ortiz250.121$748kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jared Triolo260.078$745kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alika Williams250.069$745kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul Skenes220.000$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joshua Palacios281.047$740kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Gonzales250.047$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Nicolas250.013$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jared Jones220.000$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Yorke220.000$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Liover Peguero230.080$740kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Quinn Priester230.049$673kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daulton Jefferies281.048$493kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Roansy Contreras241.039$185kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joey Wentz260.166$130kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Billy Cook250.000$84kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Justin Bruihl271.039$60kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Grant Koch27–$40k
Isaac Mattson280.018$40kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brent Honeywell291.142$24kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brady Feigl33–$8k
Jose E. Hernandez26–—
Mike Burrows24–—

Graphs

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR. Bars = Pirates 2024; the black line = the league-average player at each slot that season. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge; dropping below it = holes & dead weight.

What each regime is worth — every settled team-season since 1985

RegimeSeasonsWin %Playoff %Pennant %WS %
WINDOW 28152.131.05.01.1
CONTEND 30056.964.719.710.3
FORCED-SPEND 25648.09.81.61.6
REBUILD 32143.31.20.30.3
Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.