Why Pirates might already regret their trade deadline plan to be major buyers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not having a great 2026 season as of late, as they're currently 6.5 games out of the NL Wild Card, with three clubs at least 3.0 full games closer than the Pirates, who are still not in the Wild Card just yet. But part of what makes this 61-64 record, and 6.5-game deficit, worse is that this comes after the Pirates were major buyers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. They added a lot of bullpen help, and it just hasn't mattered. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report believes the Pirates might already be regretting their decision to buy at the deadline, as the opportunity to be big sellers could've set the team up for more long-term success. Pirates might already regret bullpen trades "As much as it was nice to see owner Bob Nutting spend a bit last offseason and authorize general manager Ben Cherington to add before the deadline, the Pirates may end up wishing they sold," Kelly writes. "Had the Pirates been sellers, there would have been plenty of interest in impending free agents like Brandon Lowe and Gregory Soto." The Pirates' decision to buy was, in the moment, a fun one for the fanbase. Seeing their team finally decide to try and make a push for the postseason after years of being one of the worst teams in the league was exciting. But their 5-8 record since the deadline, when they added Luke Weaver, Camilo Doval, Kirby Yates, and Lake Bachar, along with the addition of Jacob Gonzalez earlier in the year, has made their decision to buy look a lot more questionable. Had they sold, it would've been upsetting for the fans, but based on this team's play since the deadline with a bolstered roster, it might've been a good idea to sell. MORE: Cardinals' Joshua Baez just did something never done before in MLB history with 3-HR debut Lowe would've fetched a massive return at the deadline from a contender, and Soto would've been a nice trade chip as well. They also could've moved Endy Rodriguez, Spencer Horwitz, Oneil Cruz, or Carmen Mlodzinski. Regardless of who the Pirates would've sold, the returns would've been strong in a seller's market. Buying might've been a mistake for the Pirates, not necessarily due to their new players struggling, but rather because of what the team's current postseason outlook is two weeks after the deadline. They could still go on a run and make the postseason. But if they don't, their decision to buy might be one that the team really comes to regret, especially if a prospect or two they dealt turn into quality big leaguers. More MLB news:
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