Circling back to my earlier point about the Pirates’ homer totals, if you add Suárez’s 49 to the mix, the Pirates suddenly become a top-10 offense in home runs. While he may not reach 49 again next season, this shows how important Suárez’s power could be to the 2026 Pirates.
If the Pirates decide to ink Suárez, a two-year deal worth $42 million seems like a win-win for both sides. An AAV of $21 million is well within the Pirates’ comfort zone, especially in a shorter window. They could even include an option that adds another level of comfort as well.
For Suárez, this contract is likely going to be one of the strongest offers he has on the table. With Alex Bregman and Kazuma Okamoto being younger and potentially more impactful options, teams will be more hesitant to commit the same type of money to Suárez. This deal also gives him a chance to be an impactful piece of an exciting young core in Pittsburgh.
If the Pirates can close this deal, it would truly complete their offensive overhaul. Leaving this winter with three legitimate impact bats would be a huge win, and something they could be quite proud of.
Sign Jose Quintana as Depth
If there’s one strength the Pirates possess as a team, it’s their starting pitching. The top of their rotation is as deadly as any group in the sport, as Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Bubba Chandler make for a very dangerous trio.
It doesn’t end there, either. Jared Jones will likely return from his elbow surgery sometime in the first half, and the duo of Hunter Barco and Braxton Ashcraft rounds out a dangerous group. However, after dealing away Mike Burrows in the Brandon Lowe deal, the Pirates could use one more consistent veteran to get them by until Jones’ return.