Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

One of the biggest surprises from the MLB offseason has been how a few teams across the landscape of the league have gone about their business. Typically, we see only a small handful of teams being active in free agency, with some of the smaller market clubs taking a backseat.

*PREDICTION*

But this year, teams like the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and others have actually looked to spend some money. Nobody really understands why this has taken place, but it’s a great sign for the sport of baseball as a whole.

The Pirates, in particular, normally don’t spend much of anything to improve the roster, but this winter, they have been involved with some of the biggest names available. Pittsburgh didn’t land any of the guys that they were talking to, but the fact that they were involved speaks volumes.

This team did sign veteran infielder Ryan O’Hearn to a nice two-year contract, and it seems like they aren’t done yet. Pittsburgh isn’t going to break the bank for a free agent, but the front office does seem to be taking a more aggressive approach to everything.

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Harrison Bader Heads Over to Pittsburgh

With the Pirates seemingly wanting to continue adding talent to the roster this offseason, we could see them go after someone like veteran outfielder Harrison Bader. Pittsburgh wants to bring in more help across the roster, and addressing some of the issues within the outfield could push this team to be more competitive toward a playoff spot.

Bader has been one of the more underrated guys in this free agent class, and many teams have shown interest in landing his services. But until some of the bigger names, such as Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, sign somewhere, Bader may get left out in the dust.

However, this is where the Pirates could look to strike while the iron is hot, bringing the veteran to town. Bader could really help transform this group, while also bringing more of a veteran voice to the locker room.

Bader split time between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins last season, going to Philadelphia after a mid-season trade. While his overall numbers for the season were very strong, his time with the Phillies was special.

For the entire season, the veteran hit .277 with 17 home runs and 54 runs batted in. But with the Phillies, Bader seemed to thrive playing alongside other star players, and it saw him slash .305/.361/.463, incredibly.

If the Pirates were to add Bader, he would provide a nice pop to the lineup, giving this team more legitimacy for the upcoming season. Pittsburgh has surprised a lot of people with how they have operated so far this winter, and bringing someone like Bader into the mix would continue to show that they mean business.

While many around baseball see a return to the Phillies as a possibility, Philadelphia seems to be focusing on other crucial guys right now. This is where the Pirates come in, and this could be a solid investment for the future of this franchise.