The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to bolster their offense after agreeing to a two-year, $29 million deal with free agent Ryan O’Hearn, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now. The deal is pending a physical.
O’Hearn began the 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles and was traded to the San Diego Padres at the deadline. Combined between the two clubs, the 32-year-old slashed .281/.366/.437 with 21 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, 63 RBI and three stolen bases. Though he bats left-handed, O’Hearn had relatively even splits with an .832 OPS against righties and a .795 OPS against lefty pitchers. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
O’Hearn’s career resurgence began after joining the Orioles in 2023. Over the last three seasons, he has a .277/.343/.445 batting line (122 OPS+) with 64 doubles, five triples, 46 home runs and 182 RBI across 398 games.
Defensively, O’Hearn has played first base as well as both corner outfield spots in his career. This past season, he totaled 75 games at first base, 50 at designated hitter, 21 in right field and two in left.
The Pirates have Spencer Horwitz as their current starting first baseman but have openings both in left feld and at designated hitter.
Assuming the agreement becomes official, it will mark the first time the Pirates signed a free agent to a multi-year deal since Iván Nova almost exactly nine years ago. The $14.5M average annual value is the largest guarantee ever given by the Pirates in free agency, eclipsing Francisco Liriano’s $13 million per season over three years in 2014.
O’Hearn is the first free agent position player the Pirates have signed this offseason. They acquired outfielder Jhostynxon García from the Boston Red Sox and second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Pirates also signed left-hander Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75M deal and acquired fellow lefty reliever Mason Montgomery from the Rays.
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