The Cleveland Guardians are having a productive offseason, highlighted by the return of ace pitcher Shane Bieber and a surprising trade involving Andres Gimenez. They also acquired Luis Ortiz from the Pittsburgh Pirates, enhancing their pitching staff.

Analyst Justin Lada emphasizes the need for the Guardians to extend Tanner Bibee's contract, as he excelled in his role last season. With a solid rotation featuring Bieber and Bibee, Cleveland aims to strengthen their chances for a successful 2025 season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are exploring trade options for their pitching depth, particularly involving Mitch Keller and Jared Jones. While Keller's trade could provide payroll flexibility and a chance to acquire a strong hitter, his recent performance shows inconsistency. Jones, despite a promising rookie season, is also on the trading block, raising eyebrows.

General Manager Ben Cherington emphasizes the need to maintain pitching strength while upgrading the offense. The potential trades could hinge on the confidence in their top pitching prospects, but moving either player without securing a proven bat could be seen as a missed opportunity.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2024 season with a 76-86 record, landing them in fifth place in the NL Central. After a balanced first half, the team faltered, with a notable drop in offensive performance.

Young pitchers like Paul Skenes and Luis Ortiz showed promise, while the bullpen found strength in Dennis Santana. However, the offense struggled significantly, with key players like Ke'Bryan Hayes and Henry Davis underperforming.

Heading into the offseason, the Pirates need to bolster their hitting and address the closer situation, particularly with potential free agency losses.

The Pittsburgh Pirates must prioritize improving their bullpen for the 2025 season after a disappointing performance in 2023, where they ranked 27th in ERA and blew 36 leads.

David Bednar's struggles as a closer and the uncertainty surrounding free agents like Aroldis Chapman highlight the need for change. Fortunately, the Pirates' farm system boasts several promising pitching prospects, including top prospect Bubba Chandler, who could help bolster the roster.

With a surplus of starting pitchers in the minors, the team faces tough decisions on how to utilize their talent effectively. While free agency may not be a primary focus, adding a veteran reliever could still be beneficial.

The Baltimore Orioles triumphed over the New York Yankees 9-7, thwarting their rivals' hopes of clinching the AL East title. Gunnar Henderson starred with three hits, while Colton Cowser contributed three RBIs. Aaron Judge hit a home run, bringing his season total to 57, but it wasn't enough as the Orioles improved their series record to 8-4 against New York.

In other games, the Seattle Mariners defeated the Houston Astros 8-1, influenced by errors from the Astros. The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 2-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers, largely thanks to Liover Peguero’s two-run double and strong pitching from Luis Ortiz. José Ramírez led the Cleveland Guardians to a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds with a late three-run homer.

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-6, sealing a playoff bye. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals shut out the Washington Nationals 3-0, and Detroit continued its wild card push with a 7-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1, eliminating Boston from playoff contention.