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Eugenio Suarez has been open to a reunion in Detroit in the past.

This has been a big offseason already for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Is it one to celebrate that makes them a contender in the National League Central Division? No, not yet. However, given where the Pirates have been recently, it is certainly a big step in the right direction.

They acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays in what was a three-team trade. Pittsburgh signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a free agent deal. According to ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the Pirates, who are approaching a $100 million payroll for 2026, might not be done yet.

“Fast forward two months. Pittsburgh traded for second baseman Brandon Lowe and signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (two years, $29 million). The Pirates aren’t done, either, and while they aren’t flush enough to play in the Tucker-Bichette-Bellinger sandbox, they’re approaching a $100 million payroll for the first time,” wrote Passan.

As expected, Pittsburgh came nowhere near Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, or Cody Bellinger when the dust settled. There is one more free agent currently remaining, and the Pirates are predicted to sign him.

Pittsburgh Pirates Predicted to Sign Eugenio Suarez

Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez remains the best bat on the free agent market. He has been linked to several teams this winter. However, he has not found a home with spring training a couple of weeks away. ESPN made some predictions ahead of spring training, and Tristan Cockcroft predicted Suarez to end up with Pittsburgh.

“I’m already on board for a Pirates-led National League Central this year, and what better way for them to make a push in that direction than to address their severe power shortage with one of the best power hitters still on the free agent market? Suarez might accept a shorter deal with higher AAV and/or a post-2026 opt-out — think two years, $42 million — and he would balance what’s currently a lefty-heavy Pirates lineup that is also thin on the left side of the infield,” Cockcroft wrote.

If the Pirates could ever land Suarez in free agency, then it would be one of the best offseasons they have had in a while. Between the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, he hit 49 home runs in 2025. He was a key part of Seattle’s run to the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In 12 playoff games, Suarez hit three home runs and had eight RBIs.

Eugenio Suarez Would Add Thump to Pirates Lineup

The 33-year-old Suarez slashed .228/.298/.526 between the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025. An All-Star for Arizona, he tied his career-high for home runs with 49.

Aside from playing third base, he can DH and provide Pittsburgh with multiple options. According to Ryan Finklestein of Just Baseball, he predicted a one-year, $20 million contract for Suarez. That is something that might be tough for the Pirates after giving O’Hearn $29 million over two years.

The Chicago Cubs have made some big additions this offseason, including adding Alex Bregman from the Boston Red Sox, while the Milwaukee Brewers are undergoing some changes, including trading pitcher Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. It feels like the Pirates are making strides, but a bat like Suarez would really make it a successful offseason in Pittsburgh.

Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche

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