The Pittsburgh Pirates made a smart, forward-thinking move on Friday, landing Brandon Lowe in a trade that cost them very little in terms of long-term assets. Lowe brings legitimate power to a lineup that desperately needed it, and Jake Mangum, who came over in the same deal, adds a nice blend of speed and contact.
But if you think the Pirates are done reshaping this roster, think again. There’s still work to be done - and opportunity on the table.
Let’s be clear: this is still a thin lineup. Even with Lowe in the fold, Pittsburgh’s offense remains a work in progress.
They were dead last in slugging percentage in 2025, managing just a .350 mark. Their .231 batting average was 28th in the league, and their .305 on-base percentage wasn’t much better, ranking 23rd.
That’s not just one hole to plug - that’s a full-on offensive overhaul.
Lowe helps, no doubt. He’s a legit power bat who can change the game with one swing.
But if the Pirates want to take a real step forward in 2026, they need more than just one big bat. They need balance.
They need options. And they need depth.
That’s where free agency - not just the trade market - comes into play.
Names like Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Bo Bichette probably aren’t walking through the door - and that’s fine. Pittsburgh isn’t in the business of nine-figure contracts right now.
But there’s a second tier of free agents that could make a real impact without breaking the bank. Two names that have been floated: Eugenio Suárez and Ryan O’Hearn.
Of those two, O’Hearn is the one that makes the most sense - and it’s not particularly close.
Let’s start with the offensive profile. Suárez still has big-time pop - he hit 49 home runs last season - but it came with a lot of swing-and-miss.
He batted just .228, had a sub-.300 on-base percentage, and struck out nearly 30% of the time. That’s a classic boom-or-bust bat, and the Pirates already have some of that in the lineup.
O’Hearn, on the other hand, brings a much more balanced approach. He hit .281 last season, walked at a solid 10.7% clip, and slugged .437.
He’s not going to lead the league in homers, but he can leave the yard, hit doubles, and get on base in a variety of ways. That’s the kind of offensive versatility this lineup sorely needs.
And then there’s the positional flexibility. O’Hearn is a lefty-hitting first baseman - yes, the Pirates already have Spencer Horwitz in that role - but O’Hearn can also handle both corner outfield spots and serve as a designated hitter.
That gives manager Derek Shelton a lot more options when it comes to lineup construction and rest days. He’s the kind of player who can move around the field, cover for injuries, and still get regular at-bats.
Compare that to Suárez, a career third baseman whose defense is trending in the wrong direction. There’s a good chance he ends up at first base full-time sooner rather than later, which would create a bit of a logjam and limit the Pirates’ ability to mix and match.
The bottom line: if Pittsburgh has room for one more significant addition, Ryan O’Hearn is the guy. He fits the lineup better, provides a more complete offensive profile, and gives the team more flexibility in the field. Add him to a group that now includes Lowe, a hopefully healthy and consistent Oneil Cruz, and a bounce-back Bryan Reynolds, and suddenly this lineup starts to look a whole lot more competitive.
The Pirates have taken a step forward. Now it’s time to keep pushing.