The Pirates have finalized their two-year deal Ryan O’Hearn on Thursday. That signing is combined with Brandon Lowe the trade gives the Bucs a few more middle-of-the-pack bats from lefty.
General manager Ben Cherington spoke to reporters at O’Hearn’s introductory press conference and highlighted two areas the team is still looking to add. “If we can add someone to the left side of the infield, that’s something we’ll always look at. We’ll always be opportunistic on the field, see what comes our way,” the GM said (link via Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Cherington also said they would like to “add more” to the post-employment claim Mike Burrows again Johan Oviedo to Lowe once Joshynxon Garcia trade.
The left side of the infield awaits the target. Pittsburgh was involved in the NPB third baseman Kazuma Okamoto before signing a four-year contract with Toronto. They are loosely connected Eugenio Suárezthe second best free agent available in the backfield Alex Bregman. If Suárez’s price tag also proves to be too rich, the Bucs could be looking at a one-year contract Yoan Moncada, Willi Castro or Ramón Urías.
It can be very difficult to get a daily response in a short period of time. There are no free agent options beyond that Bo Bichettethinking they are not interested in Isiah Kiner-Falefa reunion. There has never been any kind of commercial market for this position. The Pirates will be determined to make the stoppage anyway. Connor Griffin arguably the best prospect in baseball. Pittsburgh didn’t shut the door on him forcing his way to the majors coming out of Spring Training despite only having 21 games of Double-A experience. Although that is a very ambitious timeline, it shows that he will rise in 2026.
Unless Griffin breaks camp, they are scheduled to a Nick Gonzales/Jared Triolo pairing on the left. Gonzales is a top-10 pick but has a mediocre .257/.300/.375 batting line over three seasons. He’s not exactly forgotten as a shortstop. Gonzales was drafted as a second baseman and has largely played the cornerstone with various reviews from scouts and defensive metrics. He has 230 MLB innings at shortstop and has started one game at third base.
Adding a third baseman would allow the Bucs to use Triolo as a shortstop. The 27-year-old is a better defender at third but has more shortstop experience than Gonzales. He also has the highest defensive grades as a second baseman. Triolo has a similarly light bat, owning a .236/.320/.347 slash over three seasons. A strong second half (.276/.353/.422) earned him many votes of confidence from Cherington, however he will not stand firm on the road to improvement.
Suárez may be the only clear development on the free agent market among the Bucs’ realistic targets. There is still time for the off-season trade opportunity to present itself. The Phillies running back Bichette, for example, could lead to Alec Bohm exchange if a deal is met.
Left field doesn’t seem like much of a priority. Pittsburgh got Garcia again Jake Mangum by trade. O’Hearn has the ability to work as a regular corner infielder in addition to his first base/DH split closer Spencer Horwitz. Lowe has outfield experience as well, though Cherington said he will serve as a second baseman. Pittsburgh also offered the contract Jack Suwinskiso he’s still in the mix as a deep piece.
Any pickup in exchange is likely to be an annual contract in the winter. Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller again Bubba Chandler are locked in rotation. Braxton Ashcraft he should be there again, although he worked in a pinch-hitting role last season and threw five innings in the start. Rookies Hunter Barco again Thomas Harrington he will enter the fifth starting position. Carmen Mlodzinski He may look like a starter again but he struggled in that role early last season and worked 2-3 innings in the second half. Jared Jones hopefully he’ll be back from elbow surgery by the All-Star Break.
There is a lot of talent, but only Skenes and Keller are established sources of innings. Pittsburgh usually signs a fifth starter to a one-year contract worth $8MM or less. That’s usually a soft-throwing lefty they can get cheaply and rely on PNC Park — which is tough on home right-handed power — to get decent results. Jose Quintana, Tyler Anderson, Martín Pérez, Andrew Heaney and a commercial van Bailey Falter they all fell into that bucket. Quintana, Anderson, Pérez and Patrick Corbin speculative odds this offseason.
