Pirates Land Ryan O’Hearn in $29M Deal, Capping Off Aggressive Offseason Swing
The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t just dipping their toes into the offseason waters - they’re diving headfirst. After pulling off a savvy three-team trade with the Rays and Astros that cost them just one player - pitcher Mike Burrows - and netted three in return (Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, and Mason Montgomery), GM Ben Cherington kept his foot on the gas.
The latest move? A significant two-year, $29 million agreement with free-agent first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, including $500,000 in annual performance bonuses.
This isn’t a minor splash. This is the kind of move that signals intent.
O’Hearn, an eight-year veteran, is coming off the best season of his career - one that earned him his first All-Star nod as the American League’s starting first baseman. He was the lone Orioles representative before being shipped to San Diego at the trade deadline alongside Ramón Laureano. Now, he’s headed to Pittsburgh, where he’ll bring a much-needed jolt of power to a lineup that finished dead last in slugging percentage in 2025.
Let’s be clear: the Pirates have been hunting for power all winter. They’ve been linked to names like Kyle Schwarber, Josh Naylor, and Munetaka Murakami - and while they ultimately missed out on Murakami, O’Hearn is no consolation prize.
He’s been one of the most quietly consistent power bats in the league over the past three seasons, posting OPS+ marks of 122, 119, and 125 from 2023 to 2025. His .803 OPS this past season was a career high, thanks in large part to an impressive .366 on-base percentage.
That’s not just pop - that’s polish.
Defensively, O’Hearn logged most of his innings at first base, though he also made 47 starts at designated hitter between Baltimore and San Diego. In Pittsburgh, he’ll likely share time at first with Spencer Horwitz or rotate through the DH spot, depending on matchups. Either way, his bat is what will keep him in the lineup - and likely in the heart of it.
The addition of O’Hearn, paired with Brandon Lowe’s arrival, gives the Pirates two proven left-handed bats who could easily combine for 40+ home runs in 2026. And it’s not just about the long ball. O’Hearn’s bat-to-ball skills and above-average walk rate make him a well-rounded offensive threat - a rare commodity in today’s game.
For Pirates fans, this is exactly the kind of move they’ve been waiting for. It’s not just a flier or a one-year stopgap. It’s a real investment in a real player who can help this team win right now.
And if Cherington’s recent moves are any indication, Pittsburgh might not be done yet. But even if they are, the message is clear: the Pirates are done sitting on the sidelines. They’re building something - and Ryan O’Hearn is a big part of it.