NL Central Check-In: What’s Missing From The Pirates To Feel Legit?

Tonight on NS9LIVE!, we’re putting the Pittsburgh Pirates under the NL Central microscope. How do they stack up right now against the Brewers, Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals, and are they truly close enough to contend in 2026? We’ll debate whether the roster is “good enough” as-is or if the Pirates have to acquire at least one more bat to feel safe about being a real contender. We’ll also hit the latest roster churn, including Marco Luciano being claimed by the Baltimore Orioles and Tsung-Che Cheng being claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays on January 7, 2026. Then we’ll wrap with a Discord mailbag and answer your questions live. Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.