Ben Cherington Concluded Seven Seasons as Pirates GM
The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2026 season with an 81-79 record, ending a seven-year streak of losing campaigns.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Baseball
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General manager Ben Cherington has completed his seventh season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, finishing the 2026 campaign with a winning record of 81-79. This performance marks the team's first season without a losing record in seven years.
Why it matters
The organization hopes to build on this progress after missing the postseason for 12 consecutive seasons. The front office intends to retain the core roster and continue pursuing playoff contention next year.
The Pirates finished the 2026 season with an 81-79 record, a notable improvement over their 71-91 finish in 2025. This record comes after a difficult 7-16 stretch between late July and mid-August and a period where the team suffered seven consecutive series defeats.
The players
Ben Cherington
He has served as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates since his appointment before the 2020 season.
Bob Nutting
He is the chairman of the Pittsburgh Pirates who appointed Ben Cherington to his role as general manager.
Derek Shelton
He previously served as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates before his dismissal in 2025.
The details
Ben Cherington, who was appointed by Bob Nutting before the 2020 season, has navigated the club through several challenging years, including 100-loss seasons in 2021 and 2022. The organization also dismissed manager Derek Shelton in 2025 as part of its efforts to reshape the team's competitive standing.
Timeline
Ben Cherington became general manager in 2020.
Manager Derek Shelton was dismissed in 2025.
The team suffered a 7-16 record stretch from late July to mid-August 2026.
The general manager concluded his seventh season in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
The team's 81-79 finish marks a departure from the losing seasons that characterized the previous seven years of the franchise. This trajectory is intended to serve as a foundation for reaching the playoffs after a 12-year drought.
The team's 81-79 record ensures they avoid another sub-.500 season, providing momentum for a front office that plans to retain most current players. This stability serves as a base for the organization's stated goal of reaching the postseason next year.
The takeaway
After years of high loss totals, the Pirates have reached a .500-plus record that provides a concrete benchmark for improvement. The organization is now focused on translating this marginal success into a postseason appearance for the first time in over a decade.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the club, see our Pittsburgh Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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