Locked On Pirates - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Pirates

Gary Morgan breaks down the Top 10 Free Agent Signings of the Nutting era in Pittsburgh, showing why big-name signings are unrealistic and why the Pirates continue to rely on internal development. A must-listen for fans who want a dose of reality and a bit of hope. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use code  LOCKEDONMLB  to get  $50 in lineups...

Jared Triolo and Tommy Pham earn Gold Glove nominations, but what does it mean for the Pirates’ future? Gary answers fan AMA questions about Andrew McCutchen’s return, Dennis Santana trade rumors, and the Jack Suwinski non-tender debate. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use code  LOCKEDONMLB  to get  $50 in lineups after you play your first $5...

Derek Shelton is drawing manager interest — does the league think the Pirates made him look bad? Esmerlyn Valdez is crushing the AFL with 4 homers and 10 walks. Should he be in the 2026 plans? Plus, an AMA on whether the Pirates could carry three catchers next season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use code  LOCKEDONMLB  to get  $50 in lineu...

The Pirates claim Will Robertson off waivers and DFA Ryan Kreidler. We explain OPS+ and why it’s better than raw OPS. Then we dive into the ALCS and NLCS, where the Mariners and Dodgers are dominating. Could we be headed for a historic World Series matchup? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today and use code  LOCKEDONMLB  to get  $50 in lineups after yo...

Gary Morgan reflects on the importance of moving forward with realistic optimism about the Pirates' future, using quantum mechanics as a metaphor for the unseen forces shaping player development. He honors the tradition of fans gathering at the Forbes Field wall to celebrate Bill Mazeroski’s legendary walk-off, and breaks down the advanced stat OPS to help fans better understand offensive performa...

In today’s episode, Gary Morgan lays out the three smartest internal moves the Pirates could make this offseason — starting with a bold extension for Konnor Griffin, initiating talks with Paul Skenes, and striking early in free agency and trades. It’s time to move forward. Let’s talk about building something real. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Download the PrizePicks app today...

Gary Morgan breaks down the flawed hitting philosophy dominating baseball, recaps the latest playoff chaos including the Blue Jays eliminating the Yankees and the Dodgers walking off the Phillies, and reads fan-submitted trade targets from Wednesday’s episode on arbitration estimates.   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rugiet Ready to level up your confidence ? Head to  https://rugiet.com an...

Today on Locked On Pirates , Gary Morgan continues the Positional Review series with a look at the Designated Hitter spot. Should the Pirates bring back Andrew McCutchen, sign a dedicated slugger, or keep it flexible? Plus, an AMA on Quinn Priester’s development and a sharp comparison between how the Royals and Pirates communicate payroll realities to their fans. Support Us By Supporting Our Spons...

Today on Locked On Pirates, Gary Morgan continues the Positional Review series with a look at the outfield depth chart. He breaks down arbitration projections, explains the MLB tender process in simple terms, and goes shopping for trade and free agent targets from other teams. Homework alert: listeners are asked to submit their top 3 trade targets and top 3 non-tender candidates for next episode!...

Today on Locked On Pirates, Gary Morgan continues the Positional Review Series with a look at third base. He questions the decision to retain hitting coach Matt Hague and evaluates his impact on star players. Plus, a spotlight on the eight Pirates prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League, including Esmerlyn Valdez, Tony Blanco Jr., and Will Taylor. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rugiet...

Today on Locked On Pirates, host Gary Morgan combines Second Base and Shortstop to evaluate the Pirates' internal options for 2026. From Nick Yorke’s limitations to Konnor Griffin’s upside, we break down who fits where, who could surprise, and why shortstop might still need an external upgrade. Plus, in our AMA segment, Gary tackles the question: “Why do we have to hear about exit velocity?” with...

The Locked on MLB Squad dissects the thrilling Wild Card round, spotlighting Cam Schlittler's dominant performance and the New York Yankees' unexpected success. They analyze crucial pitching decisions, debating the merits of modern bullpen management versus traditional strategies. They offer predictions for the Divisional Series, focusing on the Philadelphia Phillies-Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankee...

Today on Locked On Pirates, host Gary Morgan continues the Positional Review series with a deep dive into First Base. He breaks down the 2025 offensive stats for Rafael Flores, Jared Triolo, Spencer Horwitz, Nick Yorke, Malcom Nuñez, and Enmanuel Valdez. Plus, Andrew McCutchen responds to rumors about his future with a cryptic social media post, and Gary answers a fan AMA about Konnor Griffin’s ch...

Today we kick off a brand-new series: Positional Review, starting with Catcher. We rank Henry Davis, Joey Bart, Rafael Flores, Endy Rodriguez, and Abrahan Gutierrez defensively and offensively, then build a depth chart for 2026. Plus, we dive into today’s three winner-take-all Wild Card games and discuss what Ben Cherington’s confirmed return means for the Pirates’ offseason strategy. Support Us B...

The Pirates have let go of Oscar Marin, Mike Rabelo, and Brent Strom as Don Kelly begins shaping his coaching staff. We break down the pitching stats under Marin, question why the offense remains untouched, and answer an AMA: who’s more surprisingly still here—Ben Cherington or Travis Williams? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time...

The Pirates are running it back with Ben Cherington, Travis Williams, and Don Kelly. Gary shares quotes from the front office and manager, then breaks down the playoff matchups: Tigers vs Guardians, Padres vs Cubs, Red Sox vs Yankees, and Reds vs Dodgers.   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade...

The 2025 Pirates never truly had a chance — and they knew it. In Segment 1, we explore what players are saying about the team’s future and the need for investment. Segment 2 dives into the deeper dysfunction that plagued the season. And in Segment 3, we celebrate the players who stood out with our 2025 Team Awards. Let’s talk about what went wrong, what went right, and what must change. Support Us...

GUARDIANS SURGE, TIGERS COLLAPSE: MLB PLAYOFF RACE HEATS UP   Cleveland Guardians stun Detroit Tigers with late-season comeback. Can they clinch a playoff spot in the final weekend? Jeff Carr and Justin Lada break down the Guardians' impressive turnaround, highlighting key players and strategic moves. The discussion covers the Tigers' epic collapse, vulnerable teams heading into October, and the L...

AMA Special! Gary answers your toughest questions about the Pirates — from payroll philosophy and coaching changes to Ben Cherington’s future and the state of the NL Central. No topic is off-limits in this brutally honest, fan-driven episode. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour EN...

Gary Morgan recaps the Pirates’ thrilling 4–3 extra-inning win over the Reds on September 24, 2025, and its impact on Cincinnati’s playoff hopes. He also explores the philosophy of player development, focusing on Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo as they enter a pivotal fourth year. Plus, a fan AMA on the future of baseball if the sport shuts down in 2027. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hou...

Gary Morgan recaps the Pirates’ 4-2 win over the Reds, including Hunter Barco’s MLB debut, Oneil Cruz’s 20th homer, and Rafael Flores behind the plate. He also answers AMA questions about the ABS challenge system and how it could impact Pirates pitchers and hitters, and discusses what kind of hitting philosophy the team should adopt if a new GM is hired. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Ho...

The Pirates face the Reds in a series that could decide the final NL Wild Card spot. We break down the pitching matchups, playoff implications, and dive into a two-part AMA covering trade prospects, Ben Cherington’s future, Henry Davis’s development, and more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgr...

The Pirates shut out the A’s for the final 22 innings of their weekend series and capped it off with an 11-0 blowout win. In Segment 1, we break down the pitching dominance, offensive highlights, and home vs. away splits. Then, we shift to Ben Cherington’s press availability, where the GM addressed his uncertain future, the team’s offensive struggles, and what needs to change heading into 2026. It...

MLB Playoff Race Heats Up: Who's In, Who's Out? The National League wild card battle intensifies as teams scramble for postseason spots. Are the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers locks? The Locked On MLB Squad breaks down the Chicago Cubs' chances and the New York Mets' surprising struggles. In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians surge with a 17-5 run. Can they overtake the vu...

The Oakland A’s come to town, and somehow they look ahead of the Pirates — despite having every excuse to be worse. Gary Morgan breaks down the final 9 games of the season, the excuses already forming, and why this year feels like a merciful end more than a sad goodbye. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a f...