The Pirates are in settlement with free agent and 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn on a two-year, $29 million contract, per sources, including one other bat to a lineup they very a lot needed to revamp this winter.
The membership has not confirmed the settlement.
O’Hearn would turn out to be the primary free agent the Pirates have signed to a multiyear deal since Iván Nova in December 2016 (three years, $26 million). That is additionally the most important free-agent deal the group has ever given a place participant.
O’Hearn, 32, slashed .281/.366/.437 with 17 house runs and 63 RBIs over 544 plate appearances for the Orioles and Padres final season, performing higher in Baltimore. He was the Orioles’ lone All-Star choice earlier than he was traded to San Diego earlier than the Commerce Deadline.
An eight-year Main League vet, O’Hearn didn’t actually click on within the Majors till he landed in Baltimore in 2023. He blossomed with the Orioles, hitting .277 with a .796 OPS and 125 OPS+ in his three years with the membership. Final season was his first yr with at the least 500 plate appearances.
A lefty swinger, O’Hearn’s energy got here largely in opposition to right-handers final season (14 of his 17 house runs), however he truly posted a greater OPS in opposition to southpaws (.832 to .795). That’s a product of what’s a really balanced method on the plate, posting higher than league-average whiff, chase and strikeout charges, whereas producing a powerful stroll price (10.7%) and very best launch angles (38.2% of his batted balls hit the candy spot final yr, in keeping with Baseball Savant, placing him within the eighty fifth percentile of gamers).
The Pirates had a want to get extra left-handed bats into the lineup this winter, feeling the place participant group (particularly within the infield) was too right-handed. PNC Park’s right-field porch can be very inviting to left-handed hitters, which might probably create extra energy from that aspect of the plate.
O’Hearn break up time final yr between first base and the corner-outfield spots. He graded finest at first base, the place his six Outs Above Common had been tied for the fourth-most at his place. First baseman Spencer Horwitz was one of many few vibrant spots within the Pirates’ lineup final yr, however there’s some positional flexibility on the roster with out a full-time designated hitter in place.
O’Hearn is the second 2025 All-Star the Pirates have acquired this week, the primary being Brandon Lowe as a part of a three-team take care of the Rays and Astros.
Common supervisor Ben Cherington stated shortly after that commerce that there was nonetheless a want so as to add one other confirmed bat to the Pirates’ lineup. O’Hearn definitely matches that invoice.
With O’Hearn within the combine now, the Pirates’ projected lineup might look one thing like:
C: Joey Bart and Henry Davis1B/DH: O’Hearn and Horwitz2B: LoweSS: Nick Gonzales, or maybe prime prospect Konnor Griffin3B: Jared TrioloOF: Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Jake Mangum, Jhostynxon Garcia
That projected lineup might have 4 or 5 new faces from the top of final season, a reasonably drastic overhaul for an offense that wanted a lift after ending final in baseball in runs (583), house runs (117) and OPS (.655).
The Pirates’ roster is presently at capability with 40 gamers, in order that they might want to open up a spot for O’Hearn.
