Experts predict Pirates could sign these two impact bats this offseason

If the Pirates want any chance at being competitive in 2026, they need to add an impact bat. We're not talking about some typical one-year deal for Tommy Pham, either. It must be someone who can perform at an above-average rate. They got one last offseason in Spencer Horwitz, who happened to become their best hitter, but aside from him, the Pirates' lineup was the worst in baseball. Fortunately, two experts from MLB Trade Rumors actually predicted the Pirates to land two of the top bats on the market in their latest roundup.

The first target was Kazuma Okamoto, the corner infielder from Japan who has approached MLB under the shadow of Munetaka Murakami. Even with all the hype that Murakami has gotten, Okamoto is still considered one of the better free agents this offseason. The 29-year-old has belted 248 home runs and has posted a .882 OPS in his career in Japan. MLBTR projects him to land a four-year contract worth $64 million.

That contract seems completely uncharacteristic for the Pirates to even be in his market. Even though Ben Cherington has yet to sign a player to a multi-year contract, he did offer a player in a similar situation to Okamoto a big deal a few years back; Cherington offered Shota Imanaga a similar contract to the one he eventually signed with the Cubs. So, if Cherington is as high on Okamato as he was Imanaga, a deal here is possible.

This would also be a perfect replacement at third base for Ke'Bryan Hayes, keeping Jared Triolo in that super utility role in which he has thrived.

MLBTR predicts Pirates to sign Kazuma Okamoto and Jorge Polanco this offseason.

Jorge Polanco is the other player on this list and, like Okamoto, he would be a lineup-shifting addition. On a one-year deal with Seattle this past season, Polanco broke out, posting a 132 wRC+ with 26 home runs and just a 15.6% strikeout rate. After that breakout year, he is set to get a big raise in free agency. MLBTR projects a three-year deal worth $42 million. While that is still a big deal for Pittsburgh, $14 million a year is not that crazy, considering they are no longer paying Hayes $8 million and Isiah Kiner-Falefa just over $7 million. That money could easily get put into Polanco's bat.

Securing both of these guys is completely out of the question, yet adding one of them makes sense.. The Pirates desperately need one of these guys to save the offense. Giving guys like Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds protection in the lineup could really help them improve on their own. Break the trend, Cherington, and finally add a guy to a multi-year deal.