The Pittsburgh Pirates just made a rather odd decision in MLB free agency.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have certainly been active this offseason, adding multiple bats to improve their lineup and being involved in talks for multiple big-name free agents.
Of course, the Pirates didn't actually land any of the top bats on the market, as they have all found homes already. But they have been everywhere in hot stove rumors.
So why did they just let a perfect opportunity escape them?
Pittsburgh, which is in dire need of a third baseman, just watched as Yoan Moncada re-signed with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $4 million contract.
A deal that, based on what the Pirates have said they would spend this offseason, definitely could have exceeded.
Is Moncada a world beater? No, but he owns a very respectable lifetime .756 OPS and slashed .234/.336/.448 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI over 289 plate appearances this past season.
Perhaps Pittsburgh was scared away by Moncada's injury history, but it's not like the Bucs have a ton of other options to man the hot corner. Jared Triolo is currently the only third baseman the team has on its roster.
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada. Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images.It's entirely possible that the Pirates are trying to sign Eugenio Suarez, but would Suarez actually want to play in Pittsburgh?
Arguably the top hitter remaining in free agency, Suarez would surely prefer to play for a contender, which is why a team like the Boston Red Sox — which just lost Alex Bregman — makes sense.
The Pirates would likely have to overpay Suarez to convince him to join them, and given that he is 34 years old and had a brutal second half in 2025, that's a rather risky proposition.
Moncada, on the other hand, may have signed with Pittsburgh had it offered him $5 million. It's not like the Angels are contenders by any stretch, so the Buccos wouldn't have had to blow them out of the water with an offer.
The Pirates' third base options are dwindling by the second, and for as many moves as Pittsburgh has made this winter, it's going to be awfully rough if it heads into the 2026 campaign with Triolo and nothing else at the position.
We'll see if the Pirates have some sort of surprise up their sleeves.