The Pittsburgh Pirates must decide whether to tender contracts to 10 arbitration-eligible players by mid-November 2026. MLB Trade Rumors projects total salaries of $28.7 million for this group, with Paul Skenes ($7.2M) and Oneil Cruz ($6.3M) commanding the highest figures. While the Pirates have savings from expiring contracts, a looming MLB lockout and Super Two status for Spencer Horwitz complicate financial planning.
Justin Verlander concluded his 21-year Major League Baseball career with a 4-3 walk-off victory for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 43-year-old pitcher, limited by hip and hamstring injuries, threw 5 1/3 innings in his final start. The game ended with a surprise appearance by his seven-year-old daughter, Genevieve, who ran to the mound for a tearful hug. Verlander finished his career with 266 wins, 3,560 strikeouts, and three Cy Young Awards.
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington expects to remain in his role for 2027, citing a focus on long-term development despite missing the postseason. The team finished 81-79, their first winning record since 2018, but Cherington acknowledged the need for improvement in pitching and run prevention. Manager Don Kelly and pitching coach Bill Murphy are expected to stay, while the front office seeks to retain free agent Brandon Lowe and hire a new scouting director.
Justin Verlander concluded his 21-year Major League Baseball career on September 26, 2026, with an emotional final start for the Detroit Tigers. Despite significant physical limitations from hip and hamstring injuries, the 43-year-old pitcher threw 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 walk-off victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game ended with a surprise appearance by his seven-year-old daughter, Genevieve, who ran to the mound for a tearful hug. Verlander, who finished with 3,560 strikeouts and three Cy Young Awards, received a standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 41,377 fans at Comerica Park.
Veteran reliever Kirby Yates announced his retirement on September 26, 2026, immediately after pitching his first career start for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 39-year-old right-hander threw 1.2 scoreless innings in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers, a game that also featured Justin Verlander’s final career start. Yates, who spent parts of 12 seasons with eight different clubs, finished with a 3.35 ERA and 101 saves. He cited physical exhaustion, stating he had 'nothing left' to give the game. His final appearance marked a symbolic end to a career defined by elite strikeout rates and two All-Star selections, concluding with a farewell moment shared by two aging veterans in the same game.
Justin Verlander concluded his 21-year MLB career on September 26, 2026, with an emotional final start for the Detroit Tigers. Despite physical limitations from injuries, he pitched 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 walk-off win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game ended with a surprise appearance by his daughter, Genevieve, leading to a tearful farewell on the mound.
Paul Skenes closed his 2026 season with a strong performance, striking out eight batters in a 2-1 win over the Cardinals. Despite a down year marked by a 3.89 ERA and reduced velocity, Skenes expressed optimism about his future, crediting the World Baseball Classic for disrupting his spring training routine and contributing to his struggles.
The San Francisco Giants claimed right-hander Camilo Doval off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 24, 2026, reuniting with their former closer 14 months after trading him. Doval, 29, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh to save approximately $98,000 in salary. San Francisco placed right-hander Blade Tidwell on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot. Although the Giants are currently 65-94 and out of contention, the move is viewed as a low-cost acquisition for 2027 planning, given Doval's past success in San Francisco and his current control issues.
The San Francisco Giants claimed right-hander Camilo Doval off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 24, 2026. Doval, 29, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh to save approximately $98,000 in salary. The Giants placed right-hander Blade Tidwell on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot. While the Giants are currently 65-94 and out of contention, the move is viewed as a low-risk acquisition for 2027 planning, given Doval's past success in San Francisco and his current control issues.
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Tuesday night, with right-hander Jared Jones pitching a near-perfect game. Jones allowed just one hit and struck out nine batters over seven scoreless innings, earning the win. The Pirates' offense was quiet until the sixth inning, when Oneil Cruz scored on a single by Ryan O'Hearn. The second run came in the seventh inning when a wild pitch by reliever Cade Winquest scored a runner. The Cardinals managed only one hit in the entire game, with their offense failing to generate any baserunners until the sixth inning. The victory improves Jones' record to 5-6 and highlights his recent strong performance, as he has recorded three scoreless outings of six or more innings in his last four starts.
Paul Skenes credits the World Baseball Classic for disrupting his spring training routine, leading to a significant velocity drop and a 3.91 ERA that contributed to the Pittsburgh Pirates missing the playoffs. While Skenes performed well in the WBC, the abrupt change in his physical ramp-up appears to have caused mechanical issues that persisted all season, with his fastball average falling to 96.8 mph from 98.2 mph. CBS Sports notes that while some WBC participants thrived, Skenes and teammate Logan Webb struggled, suggesting the tournament's impact varies by player. The Pirates are now focused on finishing with a winning record, their first since 2018, as they prepare for an offseason where Skenes aims to restore his mechanics.
Justin Verlander will make the final start of his 21-year career on Saturday, September 26, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park. Despite limited recent activity due to injuries, Verlander insists he wants to compete rather than just make a ceremonial appearance. The Detroit Tigers, now eliminated from postseason contention, have arranged roster moves to reinstate him from the 60-day injured list. Verlander, who has thrown only 14.1 innings this season, aims to pitch as many innings as his body allows, rejecting a one-inning send-off. This marks the end of his tenure with the Tigers, where he was drafted in 2004 and spent his first 14 seasons before leaving for the Astros. His career includes multiple Cy Young awards, an MVP, and three no-hitters. Fans are expected to pack the stadium for a farewell event, though the Tigers' poor performance this season has shifted the narrative from a competitive return to a sentimental conclusion. Verlander expressed gratitude for the fan support but acknowledged the frustration of a season that did not go as planned. The game offers a chance for a full-circle moment, with Verlander ending where he began, though his physical limitations may restrict his outing to a few innings. The Tigers hope for a positive outcome, but the primary focus is on honoring his legacy and allowing him to compete in a meaningful way before retirement.
The Pirates designated Camilo Doval for assignment after reinstating Kirby Yates from the 15-day IL; Doval, acquired at the trade deadline, now eyes waivers with a $6.1M salary in 2026 and potential 2027 arbitration, leaving his MLB future uncertain despite elite stuff and past dominance in a troubled late-season bullpen move.
Paul Skenes says his World Baseball Classic stint likely contributed to a velocity dip that helped fuel a down year for the Pirates’ Cy Young winner. His average fastball was 96.8 mph this season, down from about 98 mph last year, and a May–July slump coincided with Pittsburgh finishing 79-77 and missing the postseason. He stresses health and offseason work to regain velocity ahead of arbitration.
On Roberto Clemente Day, the Pirates deliver a bleak home performance, losing 5-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers as a baserunning blunder and a tumultuous outing by Gregory Soto sap any late momentum; fans cite the Clemente bobblehead promo and boo the team, underscoring the franchise’s continued underperformance under the Cherington era despite attendance boosts and a celebratory backdrop.
