MLB Trade Rumors' predictions ignored these 3 free agents fits for the Pirates

MLB Trade Rumors recently released their top 50 free agent list, along with predictions from four of their writers about possible landing spots for top talent. The Pirates ended up narrowly connected to a few of the players mentioned.

Two of their writers, Darragh McDonald and site creator Tim Dierkes, predicted the Pirates would sign a talented free agent. McDonald connected them to infielder/designated hitter Jorge Polanco, while Dierkes projected the Pirates would add Japan corner slugger Kazuma Okamoto. However, plenty of the other free agents on their top 50 list fit the Pirates, both in terms of what Pittsburgh needs and what they will likely be willing to shell out for a free agent.

3 good fits in free agency that MLB Trade Rumors didn't predict the Pirates will go after

Harrison Bader

Harrison Bader was coming off two rough seasons between 2023 and 2024. While his defense remained strong in those seasons, he only managed a 78 wRC+ over 241 games. Bader then signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins last offseason and had a massive rebound campaign, surging further with the Philadelphia Phillies (to whom he was traded at the deadline). Now, he is one of the better outfielders on the free agent market.

Bader’s 501 plate appearances were the most of his career, and he hit .277/.347/.449 with a .346 wOBA and a 122 wRC+. His 17 home runs represent the most he's hit in a single season, and his .172 isolated slugging percentage was the second-best mark of his career. Bader walked only 7.8% of the time, which is about his career average, and his 27.1% strikeout percentage was his worst since the 2019 season.

Bader will help significantly with one thing, and that is the Pirates’ outfield defense. Their outfielders had -6 defensive runs saved, the 11th fewest among all 30 teams, and -12 outs above average, the sixth fewest among all teams. Bader has been one of baseball’s best outfield gloves since his 2018 rookie season, and 2025 was no different. He had +13 DRS and +7 OAA, while also being in the 84th percentile of arm strength at 89.4 MPH. Bader gets good jumps on flyballs and runs efficient routes as well.

Bader isn’t without red flags, however. He was only in the 15th percentile of xwOBA at .295. He was also only in the 10th percentile for xBA (.223) and the 21st percentile for xSLG% (.364). Bader would have had the fewest home runs in PNC Park out of any plausible home stadium, based on his batted balls and fielding dimensions. On the plus side, at least for a negotiating team, that could be a reason for his price to be driven down.

MLB Trade Rumors projects that Bader will sign for two years at $26 million (AAV of $13 million). The Pirates need outfield help, and Bader is the best option who will likely sign a reasonable contract, is younger than 35, and could help the Pirates, both when it comes to hitting and (especially) defense.

Ryan O’Hearn

If the Pirates want to add a truly good hitter to the lineup for a reasonable price, then Ryan O’Hearn would be the best free agent option. O’Hearn broke out with the Baltimore Orioles over the last three seasons, and became a highly sought-after trade target at the 2025 trade deadline, heading to the San Diego Padres. Overall, 2025 was O’Hearn’s best year in the major leagues.

O’Hearn’s 544 plate appearances are the most he’s ever had in a single season, and he hit .281/.366/.437 in that time. He slugged 17 home runs, a career-high watermark, though his .156 isolated slugging percentage was a step down from 2023 and 2024. Still, he only struck out 20% of the time, while drawing plenty of walks, with a solid 10.7% BB%. Overall, his .349 wOBA and 125 wRC+ were the best marks of his career thus far.

He saw time at multiple positions on the diamond. Most of his playing time came at first base, where he was surprisingly good, posting +4 defensive runs saved and +6 outs above average. He had never registered positives in both stats in a single season at first base in the past. He also saw 165 innings between the outfield corners, but defensive stats were a lot less kind to him there, with -4 DRS and -1 OAA. He also appeared in 50 games, making 47 starts, at designated hitter.

O’Hearn could be an excellent option for left field or designated hitter. If the Pirates signed O’Hearn for DH, they could still sign Andrew McCutchen, given that O’Hearn is typically shielded from facing same-handed hurlers. MLB TR predicts that O’Hearn will sign the same contract as Bader: two years at $26 million.

Tyler Rogers

Tyler Rogers is the model of consistency for a relief pitcher in today’s game. He has pitched at least 70 innings every season since 2021. On top of that, he has been one of baseball’s best set-up men, as he’s racked up 30 or more holds in four of the last five seasons. Rogers is coming off an outstanding 2025 season, his best yet.

Rogers appeared in 81 games, the most he’s ever played in, while tallying 77.1 innings for the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. The right-hander posted a sub-2.00 ERA for the first time in his career, at 1.98, while carrying a 2.88 FIP and 0.94 WHIP. Rogers has always been elite at limiting walks, and his 2.3% BB% wasn’t just the lowest among any qualified relief pitcher this past season, but marked the second season in a row he’s walked less than 3% of opponents.

The submariner’s biggest strength has always been limiting hard and quality contact. He was in the 99th percentile of exit velocity at 85.8 MPH, and the 100th percentile of barrel rate at 2.1%. The only year since his breakout campaign in 2021 that he hasn’t been above the 95th percentile of both stats was 2024, when he was still in the 99th percentile of exit velocity and only the 93rd percentile of barrel percentage. Rogers’ velocity will not be a concern, given his -64 degree arm angle.

Paying a large sum of money to a relief pitcher is a perilous move, and the Pirates don’t have very much money to start with. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that Rogers will sign a two-year contract worth $18 million, which is an AAV of only $9 million. The Pirates can’t take a massive risk by signing a reliever, and Rogers would come with very little, given his projected salary and his consistent high-volume and good output.