The Pittsburgh Pirates added another lefty bat that will give them hitting help.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been reshaping their lineup for Opening Day in 2026, accumulating some power hitters. The front office is taking some aggressive steps to try and become contenders, handing out their first multiple-year free agent deal since 2016. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Pirates signed All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal. It’s a versatile signing, as the 32-year-old first baseman and outfielder appeared at first base, left field, and right field in 2025.
O’Hearn earned his first All-Star honors in the 2025 season with multiple career highs, including 17 homers. He slashed .276/.350/.387 and doesn’t have a ton of raw power, but rather consistency, and the lefty was successful against other lefties last season, slashing .278/.358/.474 in 109 plate appearances. It’s the latest move in an active winter for Pittsburgh, who have already pulled off a three-team trade that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty pitcher Mason Montgomery. Those moves are necessary to turn around a 71-91 season with an offense that was among the worst in several important metrics, including runs and home runs.
Here is the full story from Pirates Roundtable writer Tommy Wild on how O’Hearn fits into their lineup and where he could shine.
Not only is there a question of where O’Hearn could hit in the order, but also where he’ll line up. That could be first base as Pittsburgh has fleshed out its outfield, but O’Hearn could also be in the mix there. His numbers last season fared better than his career average over his eight MLB seasons, which is a .252 hitter. However, he’s trended up over the last few seasons, and since 2023, is batting .277.