Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jack Suwinski celebrates the team’s win over the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
Outfielder Jack Suwinski and right-hander Yohan Ramírez looked like non-tender candidates ahead of Friday night’s deadline, but the Pirates avoided arbitration with both players. Suwinski and Pittsburgh agreed to a $1.25 million deal for 2026. Ramírez’s deal is for $825,000, according to a source.
Suwinski emerged as a key part of the Pirates’ offense in 2023 when he led the team with 26 home runs and a .793 OPS. But he has yet to replicate the success he had during his second year in the big leagues.
In 147 games over the past two seasons, Suwinski has hit just .169 with a .568 OPS. His power has all but disappeared with 27 extra-base hits — 12 of which have been home runs — and a .297 slugging percentage. Since the start of the 2024 season, Suwinski ranks last among players with at least 450 plate appearances in batting average and is third-worst in OPS.
But despite his struggles, the Pirates will be sticking with the 27-year-old for the time being. MLB Trade Rumors projected Suwinski, a first-time arbitration-eligible player, to earn $1.7 million.
In his second stint with the Pirates, Ramírez went 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA across 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He previously pitched for Pittsburgh from 2022-23. The right-hander had been projected for $1.2 million.
The Pirates have to decide tomorrow whether or not to tender contracts to pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players. Those players eligible for salary arbitration are Dennis Santana, Johan Oviedo, Joey Bart, Justin Lawrence and Oneil Cruz.
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