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.
Take you’re pick of mayo, mountcastle, kjerstad, beavers for a starting pitcher
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.
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.
Please stop lying Pirates. You aren’t going to do anything. Maybe one minor league signing and wrap up the offseason with that.
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.
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
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?
Maybe they kick the tires on Adolis Garcia. He’s had success before, even if the last few season he’s been trending downwards.
Hunter Barco will beat out Bubba Chandler for ROOY. SEC baseball fans know, he’s good.
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.
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
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.
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.
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