Ken Rosenthal surprisingly links Pirates to Padres slugger in free agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates and "spending money" don't often go together in the same sentence, unless there's a "do not" between the two phrases.

That could all be about to change this offseason, as the Pirates have notably been rumored to be interested in actually investing money into their roster. The motivations behind such intent may not be so benevolent — the impending MLB lockout in 2027 and rumored MLBPA grievances surely have some hands on the scale here — but regardless, this team needs new talent in the worst way.

In The Athletic's breakdown of these less-frugal Pirates, Ken Rosenthal suggests a couple of targets the team could pursue, including reigning NL home run king Kyle Schwarber. That admittedly feels like a step too far seeing as Francisco Liriano remains the richest free agent in franchise history at $39 million in total contract value, but it's nice to see the team even mentioned in the same breath as one of the league's top free-agent bats.

The more realistic names mentioned include Jorge Polanco and NPB star Kazuma Okamoto, though it's Ryan O'Hearn who stands out among the crowd. After a middling second half with the San Diego Padres, the slugging first baseman could be just what the doctor ordered in Pittsburgh: a power hitter at a tolerable price tag.

Ryan O'Hearn could help solve Pirates' slugging woes in 2026

Even with some power-hitting prospects climbing their way through the farm system, the Pirates' biggest need remains in the slugging game, which severely held them back this past season.

The Pirates finished the 2025 campaign ranked dead last in the league in home runs (by a country mile) with 117, and only one player (Oneil Cruz) even reached the 20-homer threshold. Even with a loaded pitching staff led by all-universe hurler Paul Skenes, it's hard to win games if you don't put easy runs on the board.

That's where O'Hearn comes in. He hit 17 home runs last year between the Orioles and Padres, including 13 in 94 games in Baltimore. His 127 wRC+ would have ranked first on the team by a sizable margin, and his ability to play the corner outfield in a pinch would give the Pirates flexibility in divvying up first base reps between him and Spencer Horwitz.

At 32 years old and following a (relatively) tough stretch in San Diego — he posted a 112 wRC+ after the trade deadline — O'Hearn shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to sign. Most estimates have his value pegged at about $25 million over two years, which, while costly in terms of recent Pirates signings, is eminently affordable for a middle-of-the-order slugger.

If Pittsburgh is serious about upgrading its lineup this winter, O'Hearn could mark a great first step in proving the intent behind those words.