The Pittsburgh Pirates continue their spending spree, reportedly signing free agent Ryan O'Hearn to a two-year deal.
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to add proven big-league talent to their lineup, just days after trading for All-Star Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Tuesday afternoon, multiple MLB insiders reported that the Pirates and free agent first baseman Ryan O’Hearn agreed on a contract. The deal is reportedly a two-year contract worth $29 million, with $500K in incentives per season.
The slugger will immediately slide into Pittsburgh’s everyday starting first baseman and should see some time as the designated hitter, too. O’Hearn will also likely be one of the top four hitters in Pittsburgh’s lineup.
O’Hearn started the 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles, where his career took off in 2023. Then, at the trade deadline, the slugger was sent to the San Diego Padres as part of a package for the 2025 All-Star.
Between the two teams last year, O’Hearn registered a .281/.366/.437 slash line with an OPS of .803, including 17 home runs and 21 doubles.
O’Hearn is a great signing for the Pirates for a couple of reasons.
First, the 32-year-old will undoubtedly add some more pop to Pittsburgh’s lineup. He has a career OPS+ of 105, meaning he’s been five percent better than the average MLB hitter since his debut in the 2018 season.
Second, O’Hearn has a history of being a tremendous presence in the locker room and clubhouse. This leadership will be important for the Pirates, considering they still have a relatively young team and will only continue to add youth, with infielder Konnor Griffin as the top prospect in baseball, who could make his debut sometime in 2026.
FanSided’s Robert Murray, who was the first to report the deal between O’Hearn and the Pirates, actually hinted at the veteran being a great fit for Pittsburgh on Monday. Now, Pittsburgh can write its name in ink into its lineup.
At this point, it will be interesting to see whether or not the Pirates make any more moves. An argument can be made that Pittsburgh still needs more help in its lineup, even after trading for Lowe and signing O’Hearn. They’ve been linked to Kazuma Okamoto and would also be a fit for Marcell Ozuna, too.
There’s still plenty of time before spring training starts, and more options for the Pirates to add to their lineup if they choose to do so.