The Pittsburgh Pirates are making it clear: 2026 isn’t just another year in the rebuild - it’s a chance to turn the corner. Their latest move? Locking in All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn on a two-year, $29 million deal that signals a rare splash of aggression from a franchise not known for free-agent spending.
This is the Pirates’ first multi-year free agent signing since 2016, and it’s not just a symbolic gesture. O’Hearn is coming off a career-best season, hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 while splitting time between Kansas City and San Diego. That performance earned him his first All-Star nod, and now he’s headed to a Pittsburgh lineup that desperately needs a lift.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Pirates’ offense was one of the worst in baseball last season. They finished near the bottom in runs and home runs, and their 71-91 record reflected that lack of firepower.
But this offseason, the front office is showing signs of urgency. O’Hearn is their second major addition in less than a week, following the acquisition of two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay in a three-team deal that sent pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston.
Add in the signing of reliever Gregory Soto and the trade for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, and suddenly there’s a pattern emerging: Pittsburgh is building a roster that can support its young, electric pitching staff - headlined by reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler.
O’Hearn fits this puzzle in more ways than one. He brings left-handed power and positional flexibility, capable of playing both first base and a corner outfield spot.
With Spencer Horwitz also in the mix at first, the Pirates now have options - and some much-needed depth - in the heart of the lineup. O’Hearn could see time in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds, giving Pittsburgh a more balanced look from both sides of the plate.
And while O’Hearn’s career average sits at .252, his recent production tells a different story. Since the start of 2023, he’s batting .277 with 46 home runs and 182 RBIs - a three-year stretch that suggests he’s found another gear. Now he’ll play half his games at PNC Park, where the short 320-foot porch and towering 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field could play right into his left-handed swing.
For a team that’s been preaching patience, the Pirates are finally starting to act with purpose. Signing O’Hearn doesn’t make them instant contenders, but it does show they’re serious about surrounding their young arms with the kind of offense that can compete. And if O’Hearn continues trending upward, this deal could look like a steal by the time 2026 rolls around.