Ke’Bryan Hayes is gone. David Bednar is gone. And according to reports, the Pirates’ payroll might not increase in 2026. So… what exactly is the plan here?

We’re joined by Alex Stumpf of MLB.com to break down the Hayes trade, what went wrong in Pittsburgh, and how a years-old report about Jon Nunnally might explain more than people realize.

Then we dive into the Bednar deal, Dennis Santana stepping in as closer, and Ethan Hullihen’s breakdown of the team’s projected $90M payroll for 2026. Is this another rebuild? Or just more stalling?

Finally, we ask the only question that might still matter: is it time to just let the kids play?

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