Pirates' fallout from Ryan O'Hearn signing just triggered a trade with the Phillies

Ryan O’Hearn isn’t just another depth signing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s a statement that this front office understands what this roster actually needs right now: a real, professional bat who expects to win and changes the complexion of the entire lineup.

That kind of player doesn’t arrive without consequences. Roster spots aren’t infinite. Somebody always pays the price. This time, it was right-handed reliever Chase Shugart.

Shugart was a useful piece for the Pirates last season. But he was also a replaceable middle reliever with modest swing-and-miss stuff and one remaining option year. He was a luxury on a roster that still has glaring needs at the top of the lineup. The Pirates weren’t going to build a contender by hoarding the 12th arm in the bullpen while their offense begged for legitimacy.

So, the Pirates made a choice. They cleared a 40-man spot for O’Hearn. They DFA’d Shugart. And instead of losing him for nothing, they flipped him to the Philadelphia Phillies for an 18-year-old lottery ticket in Francisco Loreto.

Loreto appeared in 47 games in the Florida Complex League last year, hitting .237 with five home runs. At this point, whether he pans out long-term or not is irrelevant. Moving on from Shugart to clear a roster spot for O'Hearn is smart process.

Pirates trade Chase Shugart to Phillies for teenage catching prospect Francisco Loreto

This is what “trying” actually looks like. It’s uncomfortable. It means you stop protecting every fringe piece “just in case.” It means you finally prioritize impact over insulation. It means you accept that not every arm who posts a 3.40 ERA in low-leverage innings can be treated like a cornerstone.

For years, Pirates fans begged this team to act like a club that wants to win now, not just someday. The O’Hearn signing is exactly that kind of move. It’s about raising the floor of the lineup. It’s about sending a message to the clubhouse. It’s about building a roster that expects October, not just hopes for it.

If the cost of that is losing a depth reliever? Pay it. Every time.

Good teams make these decisions. They don’t freeze in place because they’re afraid of losing a marginal arm. They understand that roster churn is part of progress.

The Pirates didn’t weaken themselves here. They chose to grow up. And that’s worth far more than clinging to Chase Shugart.