The Pittsburgh Pirates were seeking to add another power bat to their lineup, preferably one who could fill a corner infield or outfield spot or serve as a designated hitter.
They got all three in Ryan O’Hearn.
O’Hearn, a 2025 All-Star who is a middle-of-the-order bat and can play first base, outfield and DH, agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal Tuesday, pending the passing of a physical exam. The Pirates expect to use him at all three positions.
It marks the first multi-year free-agent deal for the Pirates since December 2016, when they signed reliever Daniel Hudson to a two-year, $11 million deal and starter Ivan Nova to a three-year, $26 million deal three days later. O’Hearn becomes the biggest free agent contract given to a position player in franchise history.
The 32-year-old O’Hearn, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-handed hitter, batted .281/.366/.437 with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBIs last season. He split the season between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, who acquired O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano at the trade deadline for six minor leaguers July 31.
Always a run producer — he had 38 homers and 131 RBIs in 342 games over five seasons in Kansas City, compared to 42 homers and 162 RBIs in 348 games over three seasons in Baltimore — O’Hearn revived his career after being acquired for cash considerations in January 2023. He went from a negative WAR player (minus-2.6 with the Royals) to a 5.2 WAR in three seasons with the Orioles by improving his pitch selection, increasing his batting average by 58 points, on-base percentage by 49 and OPS by 113.
O’Hearn has done most of his damage while batting cleanup, with a career .257 average and .758 OPS. He fared better in the five-hole last season, hitting .314 with an .887 OPS in 29 games, but hit 10 doubles, nine homers and 33 RBIs in 65 games while hitting fourth.
Historically, O’Hearn has fared far better against right-handed pitching (.258 average), but he posted a .278/.358/.474 slash line against lefties left season. O’Hearn earned his first All-Star Game selection after posting a .283/.374/.463 slash line with 15 doubles, 13 homers and 43 RBIs through the first half. That put him in demand at the trade deadline, and he hit .276/.350/.387 with six doubles, four homers and 20 RBIs for the Padres over 50 games.
Defensively, O’Hearn has played primarily at first base (385 games) and DH (185) but has split time between right field (101) and left (20). He had four defensive runs saved at first base, but O’Hearn was minus-4 in the outfield.
Where the Pirates use O’Hearn will be interesting, given that they have lefty-hitting first baseman in Spencer Horwitz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds in right field. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington left open the possibility of rotating position players through the DH role.
The Pirates signing O’Hearn continues an eventful offseason that involves some dealing and spending. They added outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, a top-100 prospect, in a trade that sent starting pitcher Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox. They signed left-handed high-leverage reliever Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million contract. They acquired a lefty-hitting, two-time All-Star second baseman in Brandon Lowe, who will make $11.5 million, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty reliever Mason Montgomery from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal that sent starting pitcher Mike Burrows to the Houston Astros.
