Star Red Sox free agent (and former division rival) linked to Pirates in free agency

The Pittsburgh Pirates made the (correct) decision to non-tender Connor Joe and Bryan De La Cruz this offseason, but now they need to replenish their outfield – preferably with some guys who can actually, you know, hit.

It shouldn't be that hard, but the Pirates' consistent refusal to spend money on nice things makes the task feel more daunting than it needs to be. That said, they did just get $10.5 million off the books with reliever Aroldis Chapman signing a new free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox. Why not take that money (and some more money) and invest it in a corner outfielder who can improve the batting order?

According to Andy McCullough of The Athletic (subscription required), that corner outfielder could actually be someone with whom the Pirates are already quite familiar: Tyler O'Neill. Although he spent 2024 with the Boston Red Sox, O'Neill spent the first six seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh's National League Central Division rivals.

Former Cardinals slugger Tyler O'Neill linked to Pirates in free agency

McCullough predicts that the Pirates will be able to land O'Neill in free agency this offseason. The right-handed hitter is coming off the second-best season of his career in Boston, in which he clubbed 31 home runs and racked up 61 RBI in 113 games played. He also won two Gold Gloves in St. Louis, and he won't turn 30 until next June.

This already sounds like someone who would be well out of the Pirates' price range, but McCullough points out that O'Neill's injury history is what will keep him from earning a nine-figure deal.

"He’s been dogged by [injuries] the last few years," McCullough wrote. "He played 113 games for Boston as he dealt with a variety of minor issues. A team like Pittsburgh, which isn’t too far away from contending in the National League Central, should be willing to risk a three-year deal on a player with O’Neill’s upside."

MLB Trade Rumors projects O'Neill to land a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency. That would make him the second highest-paid player on the Pirates' 2025 payroll behind starting pitcher Mitch Keller, but it could end up being well worth the investment for a club who finished 27th out of 30 in team OPS (.672) last season.

Plus, signing a guy who used to terrorize the Pirates to now do the same against his former team would just be icing on the cake.

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