Derek Shelton is likely to return next season as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, general manager Ben Cherington told reporters Wednesday.

The franchise has not qualified for the postseason since 2015. Shelton took over before the 2020 season and has yet to post a .500 record.

Still, Cherington said Wednesday that he believes Shelton is the “right person to manage this team in 2025.”

Shelton, 54, has a career 287-404 record in his nearly five seasons as the Pittsburgh manager.

The Pirates (69-76) had a stellar run in July — they were 15-10 in the month — and opened August two games above .500, six games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and 2 1/2 games out of the third and final wild card.

An 8-19 record in August, however, doomed them to fifth place in the division. The Pirates enter play Thursday 14 1/2 games out of first and 10 games back in the wild-card standings.