Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton expressed confidence in the team’s potential to compete for the National League Central title, provided they bolster their offense to complement their strong starting pitching. Speaking on MLB Tonight during the Winter Meetings in Dallas, Shelton emphasized the need to add hitters to the lineup while acknowledging the solid core they already have with players like Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and Joey Bart.
“We’re discussing it, not pounding the table,” Shelton said. “This division is winnable because of our strong starting pitching. We need to add bats, but I feel good about where we’re at.”
After finishing 76-86 for two consecutive seasons, the Pirates are targeting upgrades at first base and corner outfield. Recently, they parted ways with Bryan De La Cruz and Connor Joe, who shared time in right field and at first base.
Shelton is also optimistic about Ke’Bryan Hayes, the 2023 NL Gold Glove-winning third baseman, who has dealt with back issues and endured a tough season, hitting .233 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. Hayes has made significant progress this offseason, focusing on health and conditioning.
“For Ke, it’s about staying healthy,” Shelton said. “He’s swinging, taking grounders, and doing well. We needed this offseason progress because he missed so much time.”
Additionally, Shelton praised Oneil Cruz’s late-season transition to center field, citing metrics and Cruz’s athleticism as reasons for the successful switch. “We wanted him to play the position in real games, not just drills or winter ball. He made plays that looked effortless and is adapting well,” Shelton noted.
The conversation also turned to standout pitcher Paul Skenes, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, who had a historic rookie season. Skenes posted an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 133 innings across 23 starts, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors and a third-place finish in Cy Young voting. Despite managing his workload carefully, Shelton had to pull Skenes from no-hitters twice during the season.
Reflecting on Skenes’ dominance and potential, Shelton said, “He’s built differently—6-foot-6, strong, diligent, and always eager to learn. His sub-2.00 ERA is historic. The challenge of managing him will only grow, but it’s a great problem to have.”
Shelton also highlighted the importance of ending Skenes’ season on a strong note, as the right-hander pitched two no-hit innings in his final start at Yankee Stadium. “We wanted him to finish the season strong with an eye toward next year. The expectation is we’ll play deeper into October,” Shelton said.
The Pirates appear focused on improving their roster while building on their young talent, with Shelton optimistic about the team’s direction heading into 2024.
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