Trade Deadline Shows Ben Cherington Learned a Lesson

The 2026 MLB trade deadline revealed that General Manager Ben Cherington of the Pittsburgh Pirates had learned an invaluable lesson. The Pirates entered the 2026 season with aspirations of contention, but their roster was lacking in quality relief pitchers. This glaring weakness became evident when the team struggled to reach the postseason, currently sitting at a 57-57 record and trailing three games in the National League wild card race.

In an attempt to bolster their postseason hopes, Cherington made a series of trades on Monday. The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Luke Weaver from the New York Mets, Kirby Yates from the Los Angeles Angels, and Lake Bachar from the Miami Marlins. This move was made two days after the team obtained Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees. Although Cherington couldn't acquire a starting pitcher or a left-handed hitter during the deadline, he managed to transform the Pirates' bullpen into a robust and reliable unit.

With four proven right-handers - Weaver, Yates, Doval, and the veteran duo of Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto - the Pirates now possess the strength needed for high-leverage situations. The addition of Bachar further enhances their bullpen, as he can pitch multiple innings alongside fellow reliable relievers Yohan Ramirez and Wilber Dotel.

This improved bullpen also paves the way for Carmen Mlodzinski to be inserted back into the rotation, as Mitch Keller will miss the remainder of the season due to a teres major muscle injury.

The most striking aspect of these trades is the expiring contracts of the acquired players. Luke Yates' impending free agency and the contractual control Cherington holds over Doval, Bachar, and Weaver create a sense of stability for the Pirates' 2026 season. Cherington expressed that he considered the value of these players in the context of multiple seasons, highlighting that the team's future success and playoff chances were also a significant factor.

Following a disappointing trade for closer David Bednar last year, the Pirates had high hopes for Dennis Santana, Mason Soto, and Isaac Mattson to form a strong bullpen core. However, Santana and Mattson's performances fell short, leaving Soto with inconsistent results. With the new acquisitions, the Pirates could potentially have Weaver, Doval, and Mason Montgomery ready to step up in 2027, giving them a competitive edge in their pursuit of contention.