**Title:** Pirates' Season in Shambles: Offensive Woes Continue to Plague Team

As the Pittsburgh Pirates dive deeper into the wreckage of an abysmal season, their future looks increasingly bleak. They began the week at a staggering 17 games under .500, a dismal record of 15-32. To put this into perspective, the last time they reached such depths this early was during the 101-loss season of 2021.

To escape the quagmire, the Pirates would need a near-miraculous turnaround. They'd have to clinch 61-54 just to hit 76 wins, a feat requiring a 67-48 record for a mere two games above .500 finish, and an outlandish 74-41 run to make the postseason cut line of 89-73 in the National League. These numbers are more fantastical than realistic, suggesting another year squandered for the Pirates and their standout, Paul Skenes.

Manager Don Kelly has brought some semblance of normalcy, but he's limited by a roster lacking in talent. Analyzing the contributions of Pittsburgh's past two general managers highlights the depth of their struggles. Neal Huntington's management since 2023 has yielded 13.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) according to FanGraphs, whereas Ben Cherington's tenure has only managed 5.9 fWAR.

A closer inspection of recent player acquisitions under Cherington provides further clarity on the team's shortcomings. Notable negative fWAR figures include:

- Henry Davis (2021 No. 1 overall pick): -1.8 fWAR
- Bryan De La Cruz (2024 trade deadline acquisition): -1.1 fWAR
- Edward Oliveras (2024 offseason addition): -0.9 fWAR
- Alika Williams (acquired for Robert Stephenson): -0.7 fWAR
- Tommy Pham (2025 offseason addition): -0.6 fWAR
- Rowdy Tellez (2024 offseason addition): -0.5 fWAR
- Canaan Smith-Njigba (part of Jameson Taillon trade): -0.4 fWAR
- Tucupita Marcano (part of Adam Frazier trade, now banned from baseball for gambling): -0.4 fWAR

These players collectively account for a disheartening -6.4 fWAR, with over $10 million spent in free agent money, compounded by a squandered No. 1 draft pick and several detrimental trades. It's little wonder why the Pirates' offense might be the worst in the franchise's history.

After nearly 50 games, patience has worn thin. The Pirates, who have been shut out an MLB-high eight times, have failed to score more than four runs in 23 games. They also anchor the league’s standings in batting average (.217), OPS (.619), and runs (141).

The decision-making appears flawed, with arguments pointing towards a leadership hesitant to take decisive action. This ongoing struggle requires urgent solutions to honor the commitment of players worthy of retaining and the fans who have remained hopeful. Addressing the dire state of the Pirates' offense and overall performance is imperative to avoid yet another heart-breaking season.