The Pirates are in agreement with free agent and 2025 All-Star Ryan O'Hearn on a two-year, $29 million contract, per sources, adding another bat to a lineup they very much wanted to revamp this winter.
The club has not confirmed the agreement.
O’Hearn would become the first free agent the Pirates have signed to a multiyear deal since Iván Nova in December 2016 (three years, $26 million). This is also the largest free-agent deal the organization has ever given a position player.
O’Hearn, 32, slashed .281/.366/.437 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs over 544 plate appearances for the Orioles and Padres last season, performing better in Baltimore. He was the Orioles’ lone All-Star selection before he was traded to San Diego before the Trade Deadline.
An eight-year Major League vet, O'Hearn did not truly click in the Majors until he landed in Baltimore in 2023. He blossomed with the Orioles, hitting .277 with a .796 OPS and 125 OPS+ in his three years with the club. Last season was his first year with at least 500 plate appearances.
A lefty swinger, O’Hearn’s power came mostly against right-handers last season (14 of his 17 home runs), but he actually posted a better OPS against southpaws (.832 to .795). That’s a product of what is a very balanced approach at the plate, posting better than league-average whiff, chase and strikeout rates, while producing a strong walk rate (10.7%) and ideal launch angles (38.2% of his batted balls hit the sweet spot last year, according to Baseball Savant, putting him in the 85th percentile of players).
The Pirates had a desire to get more left-handed bats into the lineup this winter, feeling the position player group (especially in the infield) was too right-handed. PNC Park’s right-field porch is also very inviting to left-handed hitters, which could potentially create more power from that side of the plate.
O’Hearn split time last year between first base and the corner-outfield spots. He graded best at first base, where his six Outs Above Average were tied for the fourth-most at his position. First baseman Spencer Horwitz was one of the few bright spots in the Pirates’ lineup last year, but there is some positional flexibility on the roster without a full-time designated hitter in place.
O’Hearn is the second 2025 All-Star the Pirates have acquired this week, the first being Brandon Lowe as part of a three-team deal with the Rays and Astros.
General manager Ben Cherington said shortly after that trade that there was still a desire to add another proven bat to the Pirates’ lineup. O’Hearn certainly fits that bill.
With O’Hearn in the mix now, the Pirates’ projected lineup could look something like:
C: Joey Bart and Henry Davis
1B/DH: O’Hearn and Horwitz
2B: Lowe
SS: Nick Gonzales, or perhaps top prospect Konnor Griffin
3B: Jared Triolo
OF: Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Jake Mangum, Jhostynxon Garcia
That projected lineup could have four or five new faces from the end of last season, a pretty drastic overhaul for an offense that needed a boost after finishing last in baseball in runs (583), home runs (117) and OPS (.655).
The Pirates’ roster is currently at capacity with 40 players, so they will need to open up a spot for O’Hearn.