The Pirates are looking to upgrade their offense for next year and are seemingly casting a wide net. They reportedly made a run at Josh Naylor before he re-signed with the Mariners and have been connected to free agent Kyle Schwarber. Per a report from Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic, they are also considering free agents such as Jorge Polanco, Kazuma Okamoto and Ryan O’Hearn. They have also checked in with the Cardinals about trade candidates Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman.
It’s been a long time since the Pirates have been big players in the offseason but recent reporting has suggested they could be more active this winter, at least relatively speaking. No one is expecting them to suddenly be a player for someone like Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette but there is some smoke suggesting they could push things further than in the past. They’ve still never given a free agent a guarantee larger than the three years and $39MM they gave to Francisco Liriano over a decade ago. Their most recent multi-year deal for a free agent was two years for Ivan Nova in 2016.
It’s a low bar to clear but it’s possible the Bucs set new benchmarks in those categories. Per The Athletic, it’s possible that is related to the upcoming expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement. The CBA is up just over a year from now and teams may want to look like they are spending their revenue sharing money, in order to keep receiving it in the next CBA. However, the report suggests this is likely more of an issue for the Marlins than the Bucs since Pittsburgh got their competitive balance tax number over $105MM in 2025. That was the target for the A’s in 2025 as they looked to increase their CBT number in order to avoid a grievance from the MLBPA.
Even if the CBA stuff isn’t relevant, there are plenty of straightforward baseball reasons for the Pirates to get more aggressive. They haven’t made the postseason since 2015 and haven’t finished above .500 since 2018. They have a strong collection of controllable and affordable starting pitchers. The group is headlined by Paul Skenes, who is controlled for four more seasons, but he’s just a year away from arbitration and the associated salary increases. Konnor Griffin is considered by some to be the top prospect in the sport right now. He reached Double-A this year and could make his big league debut in 2026, even though he doesn’t turn 20 years old until April.
Put it all together and there’s a good case that now is the time to strike. Upgrading the offense is an obvious goal. The team had a collective .231/.305/.350 batting line in 2025. That resulted in an 82 wRC+, putting them ahead of just the Rockies among MLB clubs. Spencer Horwitz was the only guy on the team to post a wRC+ higher than 101. They have a lot of work to do but a lot of ways they can add.
Polanco has spent many years as a strong bat who can play the infield. He had an injury-marred 2024 but bounced back with the Mariners in 2025. He hit 26 home runs and slashed .265/.326/.495 for a 132 wRC. Early in the year, the Mariners frequently kept him in the designated hitter slot, as it seemed he wasn’t 100% recovered from his knee surgery. However, later in the year, he was playing second base fairly regularly.
MLBTR predicted Polanco could secure a three-year, $42MM deal this offseason. That would surpass the aforementioned Liriano deal, but only barely. The Bucs have Horwitz at first base but their infield is fairly open apart from that. As mentioned, Griffin coming up in 2026 to take over shortstop is a possibility but probably not something to be banked on today. Otherwise, Pittsburgh has a cluster of multi-positional infield guys like Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, Nick Yorke, Tsung-Che Cheng and Enmanuel Valdéz.
Polanco would be an obvious upgrade over the guys in that cluster, who could each end up in utility roles or optioned to the minors. However, he’s sure to have interest elsewhere. For instance, the Mariners are known to want to bring him back.
O’Hearn wouldn’t be as smooth of a fit. He’s best suited to be a first baseman, where the Bucs have Horwitz. The designated hitter spot is open right now, though it’s possible the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen circle back to each other later. O’Hearn can play a bit of outfield and the Bucs do have room there next to Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, so perhaps there’s a way to make it work.
He is coming off a three-year run wherein he slashed .277/.343/.445 for a 121 wRC+. That’s a strong stretch but he’s a tad on the older side for a position player free agent since he’s 32. MLBTR predicted he could secure a two-year, $26MM deal. If that proves to be correct, the Bucs wouldn’t even have to stretch into uncharted waters to get it done.
Okamoto is a bit more of a wild card since he’s coming over from Japan and isn’t proven as a major leaguer but reports suggest he should be a viable big league bat. He hit at least 27 home runs in seven straight seasons of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2018 to 2024. In 2025, he was limited by injury to just 69 games but still hit 15 homers and slashed .327/.416/.598 for a 210 wRC+. There are mixed opinions about whether he can stick at third base or if he’s destined to move to first.
MLBTR predicted him to land a four-year, $64MM deal. The signing club will also owe a posting fee to the Yomiuri Giants, relative to the size of the guarantee. If he does secure a $64MM deal, the posting fee would be $11.5MM. Put those two figures together and the Bucs might have to double their commitment to Liriano to get something done here.
As for the guys in St. Louis, the Cardinals are known to be entering a rebuilding phase. They kicked things off by dealing Sonny Gray to the Red Sox today, the first of several seller moves expected from that club this offseason. Donovan and Nootbaar are each controlled for another two years. Assuming the Cards don’t expect to return to contention in that window, it makes sense to listen on both. Gorman is controlled for three more seasons but is also less established as a viable big leaguer, so the Cards probably aren’t clinging to him too tightly.
Since he is a strong hitter and can play multiple positions, Donovan makes sense as a target for almost every team. He’s already been publicly connected to the Astros, Royals and Guardians but that’s presumably not an exhaustive list of his suitors. He has hit .282/.361/.411 for a 119 wRC+ in his career while playing all four infield spots and the outfield corners. He underwent sports hernia surgery at the end of the 2025 season but is expected to be fine by spring training.
Nootbaar doesn’t have Donovan’s versatility, as he’s just an outfielder. His bat is enticing but he’s coming off a down year and his health status is more questionable. From 2022 to 2024, he slashed .246/.351/.426 for a wRC+ of 118. In 2025, he dropped to a .234/.325/.361 line and 96 wRC+. He recently underwent surgery to shave down Haglund’s deformities on both heels and may not be fully recuperated by the start of 2026.
Gorman has real power and can take his walks but also has problems with strikeouts. He has 74 home runs in his 1,581 plate appearances but has also been punched out at an untenable 34% clip. Since the start of 2024, he has a .204/.284/.385 line and 87 wRC+. He has mostly played second base but has had a lot of time at third as well, in addition to brief showings at first and in left field.
Donovan is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to make just $5.4MM next year, with Nootbaar projected for $5.7MM and Gorman $2.9MM. That makes them all more affordable than the free agent options but the Bucs would also have to send prospects the other way.
It can sometimes be difficult to pull off trades among teams who share a division but the Bucs don’t seem to mind. They recently lined up a notable deal with the Reds, sending Ke’Bryan Hayes to Cincinnati ahead of the deadline. If the Cards aren’t going to contend for the next few years, perhaps they wouldn’t be bothered if their former players are in Pittsburgh during that window.
Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images
Please take Nootbaar or Gorman!
He could change his name to Lootbarrrrrrr.
The Pirates have such a low bar that signing 2-3 guys for over 7 million a year would be seen as aggressive
Just what they need, another player who strikes out with impunity
Idc if Schwarber strikes out almost 30% of the time if he hits anything like he did during any of his seasons in Philly. I’ll take the bad K% if it means about 40 homers and a 15% walk rate.
Schwarber would add at least clutch hitting and tremendous thunder to that anemic offense.
He’d get walked at a Bonds level clip.
Absolutely.
I can’t imagine how many times Schwarber would strike out as a pirate because I can’t imagine him being a pirate. Maybe after his next contract ends he could be a pirate.
Take you’re pick of mayo, mountcastle, kjerstad, beavers for a starting pitcher
Mountcastle? Would anyone trade a starting pitcher for him? Most were shocked he didn’t get dfa’d.
They will do just enough to be able to get 7,500 fans to the ballpark per game.
Yada, yada, yada… sign someone already.
mlb1225, Schwarber also draws more than his share of walks and has power this team hasn’t seen since Stargell
Just get a few semi-decent bats. I’m not asking for Schwarber or Alonso (even if that would be nice). This is the offseason outline I’d have set if they truly are going to want to spend in the $30-$40 million range.
1. Sign one of Polanco, Okamoto, or Suarez. My pick would be Polanco for 3 years. Between MLB Trade Rumors and Jim Bowden’s projected contract, he’ll make about $13 million AAV.
2. Sign Ryan O’Hearn. The average AAV between MLB TR, Baseball America, and Jim Bowden’s predictions is $13 million.
3. Trade for Lars Nootbaar. MLB TR expects him to make about $5.5-$6 million in arbitration. Let’s meet in the middle and say he gets $5.75 million.
Go into 2026 with this line-up:
C: Henry Davis/Endy Rodriguez
1B: Spencer Horwitz/Joey Bart platoon
2B: Jorge Polanco
3B: Jared Triolo
SS: Konnor Griffin
OF: Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Lars Nootbaar
DH: Ryan O’Hearn
This would only cost $31.75 million to add Nootbaar, Polanco, and O’Hearn, based on their projected 2026 salaries.
You’d be happy with Triolo as your every day 3B? And a major hope and prayer for Griffin. Triolo shows a bat once in a while but he’s better off as a utility player
I agree he’s better as a utility player, but I don’t see us signing both Polanco and one of Okamoto or Suarez for 3B. Triolo doesn’t have to be a star. Signing one of the 3 would be astounding. Plus, even if you sign Okamoto or Suarez, then you have Gonzales and Triolo at 2B. If Triolo can put up a like a 90 wRC+ (which I think is doable with the improvements he made last year), he’d be playable. Not outstanding, but playable.
He would also be clearly better than Hayes and has never been given a real full time chance to hit.
Endy still hasn’t proven that he can hit major league pitching and is injury prone
Trade Bart to one of the catcher needy teams Minnesota/Miami or houston for relief pitching.Let Endy be the platoon 1st base,flores and Davis split cather. Lastly sign Suarez & okamato to 4rd & Dh duties
I forgot about Flores. I’d be okay with trading Bart, and letting Flores and Rodriguez share duties as the second string catcher and right-handed hitting platoon for Horwitz. I just don’t know if the Twins, Marlins, or Astros are that needy for a catcher. Houston has Yanier Diaz, Minnesota has Ryan Jeffers, and Miami has both Agustin Ramirez and Joe Mack. I think the Rangers might be a good fit, given they just non-tendered Jonah Heim. Phillies might also be a fit since JT Realmuto is a FA. Padres’ top catching options right now are Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano.
I can really see them signing Polanco. I also think that is a mistake.
MLB-I applaud your plans on paper as many will not do that.
Endy needs to spend a year at AAA to see what he can do.
As much as I would like to see some good free agent hitters Polanco and O’ Hearn are at their zeniths and last year was not representative of their careers.
Griffin may be ready after the AS break but remember that he is very young.
I like it if Bart can be taught to play first base.
You and I disagree on Cruz.
They should get someone else who can play the outfield from St Louis.
I still think that Casas and Hopkins may be able to be fit into a couple of these spots,and Castellanos may have one more good hitting year in him.
They could use the money for a very good relief pitcher like when they got Chapman and another good hitting outfielder.
The good news is can they actually get any worse hitting than last year?
They have to move on from Cutch.
They will spend 30m guaranteed. Nutting will keep spending whatever it takes to keep getting his revenue sharing.
KG either is so good they have to settle for the draft pick chance and put him on the roster opening day. If not he won’t be up until he can’t possibly win ROY. Hopefully probably treat him like Bubba and we only see him for a month and he can possibly win ROY of year in future.
Nootbar just underwent surgery on both heels. Hard pass.
Man pirates fans don’t even ask for much and even if they sign 3 free agents their offense still doesn’t look that good
Please stop lying Pirates. You aren’t going to do anything. Maybe one minor league signing and wrap up the offseason with that.
They have to spend around 30m to get revenue sharing. They’ll spend that guaranteed.
Pretty much a rehash of the last Pirates’ related post. They can be as “interested” as they like but until a competitive offer is made to someone there is nothing to talk about. Smart money should still be on lowering payroll.
Payroll can’t much lower or the jeopardize revenue sharing.
With all this talking, if they don’t do something special, the fans may invade Seven Springs with pitchforks and torches. I sure wish they’d do something soon just so I believe it.
Nutting sold Seven Springs years ago
I was there last year albeit in the summer but it has a 1960’s design to it so it is hard to believe that it is still a money maker.
That’s their plan. Talk talk talk then do to impress the weak minded which is a good amount of people.
Prove it.
I would love to see the Bucs in the playoffs. They looked promising there a few seasons back. Some great players come up through that system only to hit FA and sign elsewhere or more often get traded before they make it that far. I don’t follow the ownership enough to comment on their strategies but it seems they have been using the team as a farm system for the rest of the majors?
Most of the small market teams are minor league teams for the big city and rich teams.
Maybe they kick the tires on Adolis Garcia. He’s had success before, even if the last few season he’s been trending downwards.
Sometimes those guys do have one more good year in them.
He should try rebuilding his value at a hitter friendly park. Thinking he’ll lose even more power trying to hit them out of PNC.
Hunter Barco will beat out Bubba Chandler for ROOY. SEC baseball fans know, he’s good.
I do not bet against you ElGaupo.
It could be they want to avoid grievences.
But Tucker, Schwarber, and Bitchette sounds a bit crazy.
So does Okamato.
Polanco sounds most realistic.
It’s sad we have to assume that these cheap owners are spending because of the threat over a grievance from the players union.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I mean, other teams could’ve gotten Luis Severino, but the A’s got him to avoid grievance. There should be a process of returning to money to the non-reveune sharing recipients.
Yes,those non revenue receiving teams really need the money.
Whatever happened with the other grievances? It makes big news and then never hear anything again. My theory is Nutting cuts it close down to the penny but his spending is always just enough. Moving forward I guess it’s going to cost him a extra 2 to 4 cents a year.
Not even sure if it’s about avoiding a grievance. You can’t fight for a floor and cap if Miami and Pittsburgh don’t start spending. You have the lockout coming.
The pirates need 3 bats they need to get to 120 or 140 million to be competitive with brewers and reds
Who?
The only players going there are guys who takes minor league contracts.. They did rowdy tellez dirty by giving him less ab before his extra pay clause..
Who wants to go there when, they don’t go to playoffs
Rowdy Tellez didn’t deserve the money he did get let alone a bonus. Quit with this “dirty” narrative.
Rowdy to his credit said that he did not deserve it.
Players go wherever they can make the most $. Rowdy deserved everything he got if the dum dum actually thought he was going to get that’s bonus when he signed.
Tyler O, and they feel good about missing out on him last year because the O’s will pay down his salary, and Mitch Keller comes to Camden. Throw in a prospect, etc.
Pirates will not be giving away Keller for O’Neill no matter how much you pay down that bad contract.
And I hope that you meant that the Orioles will be throwing in a prospect.
I used to have no beef with these Pirates, I even have a camouflage Salute to Armed Forces Special Edition Pirates cap but I might have to go throw it in the bonfire now after their malfeasance with my Mariners players. First trying to steal Naylor from under us and now Polanco, I ain’t having it!! These guys were playoff heroes for us and now you’re just messing with my emotions.
Pirates were are trying to do you a favor you just can’t see that yet. I’d gladly let them have Naylor Suarez Polanco and acquire better value players with less risk. Make sure to give them Randy too.
OK OK OK It’s just, you know, sentimentality or something, with being attached to certain players that helped you get somewhere you’ve never been before. But I know you AI; you just look at the cold hard reality of it all. Could care less about who beats who and the attendant emotions of grown men. I hear ya brother. And there are times when I’m that way as well.
Extensions not free agents. Wouldn’t you rather have 2 more Raleigh than 2 more Naylor? Or at least some free agents who aren’t heading to or in mid 30s? Even Naylor who is younger but only 1 season over 20 hrs doesn’t walk a ton is a 1b. It’s tuff. And thankfully the big $ spending pirates restrained themselves. But if they went 100 110 120 on Naylor I would be like congratulations you can have him. Definitely wouldn’t be too upset getting out bid on 30 year old. Then again I would much much much rather have Schwarber vs Suarez going forward. If I was going to bet on the old guy that would be the one. Even though it will cost more. That dude is more likely to be a difference maker.
Try to sleep tight and don’t let those pirates scare you too much.
I know you were messing around a lil and same here. But my cold heart went to $. Pirates got about 700,000 tickets to sell. The big name and big contract spending shock of Schwarber would be great for that. The season he had. The all star game. Really increased his star power. Most think the Pirates could sign a Polanco or even Suarez. Most think Schwarber is a pipe dream. Sign him and Nutting gives a big speech how he has failed as a owner or has been on talk but now he wants to prove he is more than talk and blah blah winning blah blah whatever. Point is he needs some pr help and this move could do that. He won’t. He doesn’t care. Not smart enough to see the $ benefits. Would be smart move though. A lot of star power that is financially limited by his age. And the stars aligned to give you Skenes KG even Bubba SH. If you are ever going to take just 1 and only shot now would be the time. And the attendance tv deal increase would pay for a large chunk of Schwarber. If Nutting or one of his employees was aware of this I would put the pirates as favorites. He has more value to Pirates than any other team.
Pirates attendance when they were winners almost 2.5 million. Last year 1.5 There’s a million reasons why Nutting should pay Schwarber. Just the illusion of trying by bringing in this level of player would sell hundreds of thousands of tickets. Unfortunately I don’t know if Nutting would spend $ to make $. But Nutting interns if you read this go look what I said about the Mets attendance if they sign Soto and go look at the Mets attendance increase. They didn’t pay Soto 700m and you won’t be paying 150 or whatever for Schwarber. When you factor in attendance fan increase sponsorships future media deals they pretty much pay for themselves.
Totally concur …that would be epic if Nutting would totally change the narrative going around about him and pony up for Schwarbs. (OH yeah I was screwing around in general lol ) but do you think if that were to happen you would need another guy in the lineup to help protect him? And when it comes to Nutting, what is motivating him?? Why did he buy a baseball team?? Status symbol?? His girlfriend at the time liked baseball ? Obviously seems to not be motivated to have a perennial winner. But I am sure he might be kind of tired of having the reputation of being one of the worst owners in the world. Him and Fisher and Sherman and Moreno I guess. Throw in Rhinesdorf maybe, but I think he cared at one point. The problem with MLB are these problematic owners whose motives for owning a team do not align with the majority of other owners or the fans and they are ignorant of baseball…so why???
Also Schwarber may be the ideal free agent for the Pirates but he’s not a charity case and he may not want to be sole point of power and the franchise savior and Jesus all rolled into one in order to normalize Nutting. Actually could see Schwarbs be the most ideal fit in Cincy.
I gotta think Nutting. Will just be guess or throwing ideas out since I am not a mind reader and don’t recall him telling his reasons and wouldn’t believe him if he did.
Schwarber would be signing for 1 reason. The biggest pile of $. Are there any teams that could gain 1 million in attendance? Cincinnati probably is close to it’s potential. I’ll take a look in a bit. Maybe Kyle likes to be the talk of the town. A potential legend. But it’s going to be because it’s the most $. I would guess he returns to Philly but Pirates could and should give him a extra year that no one else will.
Reds could gain 200 300k attendance. But since they made playoffs they can will do that anyways without signing Schwarber or any big free agent.
Nutting family came from small town newspapers empire. Dad grandpal I dunno how far back. Still has papers. Owned a ski resort until global warming or something made him sell it. Anyways local businesses. He’s from WV. Baseball teams used to sell for few hundred million so didn’t take billions. So bought local business with great data suggesting growth. Why not take profit? We’ll still showing growth and guy still owns newspapers so I dunno.
Does he want to win? People think all these small market owners are just pocketing all this $. Maybe they are but none of them spent over 150m. Could be they can’t spend anymore. Nutting doesn’t have any parking or attendance or playoff revenue so maybe 100m is all he can do. Maybe owners are pocketing all this $. My guess it’s both. They aren’t making enough but enough that they don’t want to open their books and get a pity party.
One thing motivated Nutting- 10% annual return on his investment.
Schwarber wants to play for a winner.
Phillies say that they want him back badly.
If he does not resign he may very well go to Cincinnati.
They’re going to kick the tires on most free agents, leak it to the press that they’re ‘in’ on someone, but in the end, sign no one of any significance while claiming they “tried”. Oldest small-market-team-crying-poor trick in the book
Sadly, yes. We’re not going to see anything better than this year’s version of Tommy Pham. Keller will be traded for prospects, and McCutcheon will return as a reminder of that time we made the postseason.
Don’t forget last year’s Rowdy Tellez, minor league contract.
Will any of the players mentioned accept a one year contract?
If no then move on to the next article.
“… made a runat Josh Naylor”???
According to several observers, the Pirates did not make an offer to Naylor or seriously engage with his agent. So what did they do? Chat about Naylor over a few beers and agree that they were interested?
Only guys they get is minor league signings who had a cup of coffee in pro.. pirates are just athletics in the NL just not worth signing with just a farm team for others, they will trade keller, Paul Skeens when it get to be too costly to keep
Adolis Garcia would be a reasonable speculation overpay at 3x18m…
Or 1 at $8M
They could’ve had Garcia for his last year of arbitration for less than that AAV without giving up much more than some scrub PTBNL. Nobody wanted to pay him $12Mish so they cut him. If they could’ve had him for that why in the world would they commit to 3 years at $13M per???? If anything he’ll be on a 1 year prove it deal around $6M-$8M which I’d be fine with as the cherry on top of a few other signings
1. Trade Keller for Adell or Duran, save 16mil
2. Sign O’Hearn
3. Sign Suarez or Polanco
4. Griffin at SS
That shouldn’t break bob’s wallet & Bucs could field a solid lineup