Pirates GM Sends Blunt Message to Team in Concerning Admission as Trade Deadline Uncertainty Looms

It’s no mincing words anymore for the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ GM. With the team standing at National League rock bottom, holding a dismal 39-61 record and trailing the division leaders by a dismal 20.5 games, the front office has reached a breaking point. The franchise finds itself in an all-too-familiar position – looking up at everyone else while their fanbase grows increasingly frustrated with another lost season.

When you’re sitting at the bottom of the barrel like this, something’s got to give. So what happens when a GM publicly admits his team is exactly where nobody wants to be? Well, you know, it’s either refreshingly honest or devastating – and in this case, it might be both. Ben Cherington delivered his most candid assessment, yet during a radio appearance that felt more like a confession than a typical media session, openly acknowledging the team’s dire situation without sugarcoating the reality.

The brutal honesty continued as he laid out the stark reality facing the organization. “Every team is focused on, ‘How do we improve our situations?’ We’re in a situation that we don’t want to be in. We need to find ways over the next several days, into July 31, to put ourselves in a better situation going forward to increase the chances of the Pirates being a winning team in 2026 and beyond. That’s our only focus,” he explained. Want to bet on what kind of pressure he is feeling right now? This team has just been swept in the series against the Chicago White Sox for and third straight time.

This is not the first time Cherington found his days under intense scrutiny. Earlier in this season, the Pirates fired Manager Derek Shelton after a brutal 12-26 start, with Cherington defending the move by insisting that “we’re not in a position to wait any longer.” Yet more talk was focused on the GM’s job versus the fired manager. Critics have been clamoring for his removal for months, some pointing to the organization’s failure to capitalize on having in their ranks a generational-type talent in Paul Skenes while the team trudges on. But amidst all this organizational turmoil, there stood a single ray of hope that keeps the faithful coming back to PNC Park.

Skenes returns home as Pirates’ lone bright spot.

Speaking of that generational talent, at least Pittsburgh fans have one reason to tune in tonight. Paul takes the mound at PNC Park for his first start since he dominated the All-Star Game last week. Skenes struck out Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene before he forced Aaron Judge to ground out, reminding everyone why he’s already making history. This kid made history by becoming the first pitcher ever to start consecutive All-Star Games in his first two MLB seasons – that’s the kind of stuff legends create.

Familiar faces are coming back with the 6:40 p.m. matchup in front of the Detroit Tigers now. Paul Skenes had dominated these guys twice before, both times at Comerica Park, and both times with glory: In each of those outings, he gave away two runs in six innings and struck out nine. Now he has his first home-based shot at the Tigers.

Here’s what frustrates Pirates fans the most: Skenes carries a 4-8 record despite pitching like an ace. The offense continues to hang him out to dry, scoring four runs or fewer in 16 of his 20 starts. That’s criminal when you’re wasting a guy this talented on the mound.

He’ll battle Jack Flaherty tonight instead of Tiger’s ace Tarik Skubal, who started yesterday against Texas. Pittsburgh’s offense needs to finally give their young star the run support he deserves.