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When the offseason began, the Pittsburgh Pirates had one clear focus: to improve one of the worst offenses in baseball. Over the last few weeks, the Pirates have done that by completing trades with the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Those deals netted Pittsburgh five players, including Brandon Lowe. On Tuesday, they flipped their focus to the free agent market, signing Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year deal.
In O’Hearn, the Pirates are adding a player coming off a career year. During the 2025 campaign, O’Hearn appeared in 144 games for the Orioles and Padres. The 32-year-old set career highs in home runs with 17 and RBI with 63. He also stole three bases.
As O’Hearn proved to be a consistent source of offense, he also added to his trophy case. The veteran first baseman was selected to his first All-Star team after hitting .283 in the first half.
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Due to his stellar play, the Florida native was dealt to the Padres to help them in their playoff push. While San Diego fell short of its ultimate goal, O’Hearn made the most of his playing time, hitting .276 in 50 games. For a team that needs players who can get on base, O’Hearn will be a valuable piece.
In signing the former Padre, Pittsburgh got out of its comfort zone. They gave O’Hearn a two-year deal worth $29 million. The total of that deal could rise due to bonuses. It is the first multi-year deal Pittsburgh has given out to a free agent since Ivan Nova in 2016.
While O’Hearn wasn’t the biggest free agent on the board, he is a clear upgrade for Pittsburgh. He has shown great discipline in his career and can play multiple positions. Over the last three years, he thrived in Baltimore, posting a .796 OPS and an OPS+ of 125. Those numbers are the type of production of which the Pirates have been in dire need.
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Although there is still work to do, the Pirates are a lot better than they were a week ago. With an elite pitching staff, they don’t need to score six runs a game, but they do need an offense that can put runs on the board with consistency. With Lowe and O’Hearn now in the mix, the offense should take a major step forward as the Pirates look to return to the postseason.