Pirates GM Ben Cherington takes responsibility for 'difficult stretch,' says goals won't change

Ben Cherington accepted responsibility for the 10-game losing streak that derailed the Pittsburgh Pirates’ postseason hopes but said it hasn’t changed the team’s goals.

The Pirates general manager said Sunday afternoon on his weekly radio show that, after a 14-game jump in their win total last year, the expectation remains for continued improvement.

“We set out to be better in 2024 than we were in 2023,” Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. “That goal hasn’t changed. That’s still our focus. We’re putting all of our energy toward that. … What we want to accomplish in 2024 is still ahead of us.”

The Pirates were 55-52 and two games back in NL wild card standings when Cherington acquired left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks, outfielder Bryan De La Cruz and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the July 30 trade deadline, then lost 12 of their next 13 games against the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We had a very difficult stretch,” Cherington said. “Ultimately, I am most responsible for that. We need to continue to make the team better.”

Cherington also addressed the left knee inflammation that forced the Pirates to place 37-year-old designated hitter Andrew McCutchen on the 10-day injured list Saturday, adding he hopes to have him back as soon as he’s ready.

“I think this is just one of those things where Andrew is not 23 anymore,” Cherington said. “The body is feeling the wear and tear of playing baseball at a very high level for a very long time.”

With McCutchen on the IL and shortstop Oneil Cruz being removed from Friday’s game with left ankle soreness, Cherington said the Pirates recalled infielder Alika Williams from Triple-A Indianapolis instead of newly acquired second baseman/outfielder Nick Yorke and outfielder Billy Cook because of Williams’ ability to play shortstop, in the event Cruz’s injury would limit him from playing the field.

Cherington said the Pirates are going to “keep our fingers crossed” lefty reliever Ryan Borucki can return this season and that rookie right-hander Jared Jones will “definitely” make one more start at Indianapolis at an increased pitch count before evaluating if he’s ready to rejoin the starting rotation.

And Cherington discussed the Pirates’ dramatic drop in Baseball America’s farm talent midseason rankings, where they slipped from No. 3 overall in 2022 to 27th this year, noting “you can put some stock in it” while acknowledging “rankings aren’t perfect.”

Part of the problem, Cherington said, is a number of top prospects, including catchers Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez, pitchers Paul Skenes and Jones and second baseman Nick Gonzales, graduated from that status after spending enough time in the major leagues.

“That’s going to have some effect,” Cherington said. “That said, we don’t want to be lower. It’s fuel. Just because we’re graduating players, we’d prefer not to drop in rankings.”