While the Baltimore Orioles’ offseason has allowed fans to turn the page from what was a miserable 2025 season, one of the lone bright spots from the season has returned to the spotlight. FanSided’s Robert Murray reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed former Orioles All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year deal worth $29 million.
A splash for the Pirates: Free-agent first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a two-year, $29 million contract, according to sources familiar with the deal. It includes $500K in performance bonuses in each season.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 23, 2025Former Orioles All-Star Ryan O’Hearn is the latest move of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ busy offseason.
Through the early months of the offseason, the Pirates were giving off the impression that they would be among the most active teams. Like with the Orioles, Pirates fans needed to see it to believe it, and it began last week when Pittsburgh added All-Star infielder Brandon Lowe as part of a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros.
O’Hearn’s arrival gives the Pirates another All-Star bat. With the Orioles since 2023, O’Hearn experienced a breakout campaign in 2025. The 32-year-old slashed .283/.374/.463 with 13 home runs in 94 games before being traded to the San Diego Padres.
In the trade for the Padres, Baltimore sent O’Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano to San Diego in exchange for pitchers Boston Bateman, Tyson Neighbors, and Tanner Smith; and infielders Brandon Butterworth, Cobb Hightower, and Victor Figueroa. Bateman was the prize prospect of the deal and is currently within the top 10 prospects in Baltimore’s system, according to MLB Pipeline.
Ironically, it was O’Hearn’s emergence at first base that could have ignited Baltimore’s interest in Pete Alonso this offseason. O’Hearn’s breakout came at a time when Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo were struggling. Rather than entering the 2026 season with the hope that one of Mountcastle or Mayo could find their approach while serving as the team’s first baseman, the Orioles turned to Alonso.
In the immediate aftermath of the deadline, there were some questions regarding whether Mike Elias was aware of the direction he was going to take the team. It’s safe to say he may have gotten the last laugh. The trades Elias made in July, like O’Hearn to the Padres, are what paved the way for Baltimore to have a wildly successful offseason.