Sitting more than 25 games out of the NL Central lead in mid-August, it's safe to say that the 2025 MLB season hasn't gone exactly as the Pittsburgh Pirates planned.
The team's playoff drought will stretch to one decade once they are officially eliminated from contention this year, and the team's confounding performance at the trade deadline only makes this campaign feel like more of a lost season than it already was.
Nevertheless, the final month of the season must still be played, and September offers a unique opportunity for certain players to get a chance to audition for a roster spot in future seasons.