He is neither Kyle Schwarber nor Josh Naylor, big-time sluggers who can turbocharge a lineup. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates are adding another quality left-handed hitter to their lineup.
The Pirates agreed to terms on a two-year, $29-million contract with free agent first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn on Tuesday. The completion of the deal is pending O’Hearn’s passing a physical examination.
O’Hearn does not have the cache of Schwarber or Naylor, players the Pirates unsuccessfully pursued as free agents. Schwarber re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Naylor returned to the Seattle Mariners.
However, for the second time in less than a week, the Pirates acquired a lefty hitter who was selected to this year’s All-Star Game. The Pirates traded for Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe last Friday.
The 32-year-old O’Hearn hit a combined .281/.366/.437 with 17 home runs in 144 games this past season for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres.
Since the Orioles acquired O’Hearn from the Kansas City Royals in a waiver deal prior to the 2023 season, he has posted a .277/.343/.445 slash line while hitting 46 home runs in 398 games over three seasons. O’Hearn made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2018 but hit just .219/.293/.390 with 38 homers over 342 games and five seasons.
O’Hearn should bolster a Pirates’ lineup that finished last in MLB in runs scored, home runs, and OPS this year. His 125 OPS+ would have been a team-leading figure for the Pirates.
In addition to the guaranteed money in the contract, O’Hearn can earn $150,000 in each year in performance bonuses -- $100,000 each for 450 and 475 plate appearances and $150,000 each for 500 and 525 PAs.
O’Hearn gives manager Don Kelly some options in constructing his lineup. O’Hearn has made 334 career starts at first base, 169 at designated hitter, 77 in right field, and 12 in left field.
The Pirates already have Spencer Horwitz as a left-handed-hitting first baseman, and O’Hearn had minus-4 defensive runs saved this season in just 23 games as an outfielder. Franchise icon Andrew McCutchen has served as the Pirates’ primary designated hitter the last three seasons, but O’Hearn started as the DH for the American League in the All-Star Game this season.
Regardless of what position O’Hearn ends up playing, he will end an embarrassing streak for the Pirates. They haven’t signed a player to a multi-year contract since giving right-hander Ivan Nova a three-year, $26-million deal during the 2016-17 offseason.