Updating earlier reports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a two-year, $29 million contract with free agent Ryan O'Hearn, including $500,000 in performance bonuses per season—the largest free-agent deal for a position player in franchise history. The 2025 All-Star and No. 31 free agent, who split last year between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, hit .281/.366/.437 with 21 doubles, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 2.4 WAR, bringing left-handed power and strong defense to Pittsburgh's revamped offense.
First reported by MLB.com sources and detailed by Robert Murray of FanSided, the Pirates have not yet officially confirmed the deal, which marks their first multiyear free-agent signing since Iván Nova's three-year, $26 million contract in December 2016.
O'Hearn, 32, broke out in 2025 over 144 games (544 PA), earning an All-Star nod with Baltimore before a trade to San Diego. He posted a .796 OPS and 125 OPS+ across three seasons with the Orioles, featuring a 10.7% walk rate, 85th-percentile batted-ball quality (Baseball Savant), and elite defense (6 Outs Above Average at first base, tied for fourth). Versatile for first base, corner outfield, or DH, he fits PNC Park's short right-field porch against the team's right-heavy infield.
The signing follows last week's three-team trade for fellow All-Star Brandon Lowe from the Rays (via Astros), as GM Ben Cherington seeks support for young ace Paul Skenes, the 2025 NL Cy Young winner hampered by poor run support (3.59 runs/game). Pittsburgh finished 2025 last in runs (583), home runs (117), and OPS.
Projected lineup: O'Hearn (1B/DH), Lowe (2B), Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz in OF. With the 40-man roster full, space must be cleared. Previously linked to Kyle Schwarber (who re-signed with Philadelphia), this move signals aggressive offseason rebuilding amid ongoing free-agent activity.
