Much to the chagrin of Pittsburgh Pirates fans, Ben Cherington is still in the general manager's chair heading into 2026.
But he'll be under enormous pressure – not just from fans, but from ownership (even a passive owner like Bob Nutting) to prove that the rebuild that is now entering its seventh year hasn’t been a massive waste of time.
To save his job for 2027, Cherington has to stop rebuilding and start building. That means a mix of bold trades, aggressive spending, major staff overhauls and a clear commitment to either winning with the current core or resetting with purpose.