The Pirates finalized their two-year deal with Ryan O’Hearn on Thursday. That signing paired with the Brandon Lowe trade gives the Bucs a couple of middle-of-the-order bats from the left side.
General manager Ben Cherington spoke with reporters at O’Hearn’s introductory press conference and highlighted two areas the team is still looking to add. “If we could add someone on the left side of the infield, that’s something we’ll keep an eye out for. We’ll remain opportunistic in the outfield, see what comes our way,” the GM said (link via Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Cherington also said they’d like to “add back” to the pitching staff after they dealt Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo in the respective Lowe and Jhostynxon Garcia trades.
The left side of the infield is an expected target. Pittsburgh was involved on NPB third baseman Kazuma Okamoto before he signed a four-year contract with Toronto. They’ve been loosely linked to Eugenio Suárez, the second-best available free agent at the position after Alex Bregman. If Suárez’s asking price also proves too rich, the Bucs could look to a one-year deal for Yoán Moncada, Willi Castro or Ramón Urías.
It’d be more difficult to find an everyday answer at shortstop. There aren’t any free agent options beyond Bo Bichette, assuming they’re not interested in an Isiah Kiner-Falefa reunion. There hasn’t been any kind of trade market at the position. The Pirates would only be interested in a stopgap anyway. Konnor Griffin is arguably the best prospect in baseball. Pittsburgh hasn’t closed the door on him forcing his way to the big leagues out of Spring Training even though he only has 21 games of Double-A experience. Even if that’s too ambitious a timeline, he figures to be up at some point in 2026.
Unless Griffin breaks camp, they’re projected for a Nick Gonzales/Jared Triolo pairing on the left side. Gonzales is a former top 10 pick but has a middling .257/.300/.375 batting line in parts of three seasons. He’s miscast as a shortstop. Gonzales was drafted as a second baseman and has mostly played the keystone with varying reviews from scouts and defensive metrics. He has 230 MLB innings at shortstop and has only started one game at third base.
Adding a third baseman would allow the Bucs to use Triolo as their stopgap shortstop. The 27-year-old is a better defender at third base but has more shortstop experience than Gonzales. He also has the superior defensive grades as a second baseman. Triolo has a similarly light bat, carrying a .236/.320/.347 slash in three seasons. A strong second half (.276/.353/.422) has earned him multiple votes of confidence from Cherington, yet he’s not going to firmly stand in the way of an upgrade.
Suárez might be the only clear improvement on the free agent market among realistic targets for the Bucs. There’s still time for a late-offseason trade opportunity to present itself. The Phillies run at Bichette, for instance, would almost certainly lead to an Alec Bohm trade if a deal comes together.
Left field doesn’t seem to be as big a priority. Pittsburgh acquired Garcia and Jake Mangum via trade. O’Hearn has the ability to work as a semi-regular corner outfielder on top of his first base/DH split alongside Spencer Horwitz. Lowe has outfield experience as well, though Cherington said he’ll work as the primary second baseman. Pittsburgh also tendered a contract to Jack Suwinski, so he’s still in the mix as a depth piece.
Any rotation pickup is likely to be on a one-year deal late in the winter. Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Bubba Chandler are locked into the rotation. Braxton Ashcraft should be in there as well, though he worked in a swing role last season and only once pitched beyond five innings in a start. Rookies Hunter Barco and Thomas Harrington would compete for the fifth starter role. Carmen Mlodzinski could get another look as a starter but struggled in that role early last season and worked 2-3 inning stints in the second half. Jared Jones will hopefully be back from elbow surgery by the All-Star Break.
There’s plenty of talent, but only Skenes and Keller are established sources of innings. Pittsburgh generally signs a fifth starter to a one-year contract worth $8MM or less. That’s often a soft-tossing lefty whom they can get for cheap and rely on PNC Park — the most difficult for right-handed home run power — to get decent results. Jose Quintana, Tyler Anderson, Martín Pérez, Andrew Heaney and trade pickup Bailey Falter have all fallen in that bucket. Quintana, Anderson, Pérez and Patrick Corbin are speculative possibilities this offseason.
Moncado is perfect fit 👌
Or maybe Rengifo
Quintana would be a good fit again
What about guys like Gonsolin, Turnbull, Sherzer, Buehler, Gomber, Tyler Anderson ?
Most of those guys can move to the pen when Jones comes back.
Willi Castro and Marcus Stroman would be my choices
If they could somehow get Scherzer to Pittsburgh that would be incredible for the young guys in that rotation.
Agree, but he turned down the Pirates last season for more money than he got from the Brewers, he may have a bad taste for management when they traded him 2 years ago
Unfortunately, probably had an issue with how the organization is/was run.
I’m sure signing a 1yr rebound deal with Pittsburgh you expect to be flipped at the deadline if things go right.
I’ll say Ramon Urias.
Suarez is the perfect fit.
Wade Boggs is a perfect fit 🙂
The article title changing from “Looking” to “Open” is honestly so appropriate for the way the Pirates operate.
Do the Pirates have a catcher to trade for Bohm? Then Philly can sign Bichette.
I am good with Triolo playing 3rd with an edition like Monaco who can take an occasional day at 3rd or dh if Moncado had played a full season he was on pace for almost 30 homers and won’t cost no where near what Suarez will and I love having Triolos defense on the field
Triolo has no business being more than a utility player
Joey Bart for Bohm absolutely done
Yes. Hoping the Phillies sign someone like Bregman which would shake Bohm loose
And Bohm would end up having the worst season of his career.
From the Pirates side, sure. But depends on whether the Phillies see Bart as a viable option. And I’m sure adding another 8M to the payroll would keep Bob up at night.
Not sure Bart is much of a dangle by himself. He looked like the old Joey Bart last season, and that’s not a good thing
Yeah, they’re not getting Bohm for Bart.
Endy and Bart are options for sure, but probably just as well off to sign any FA catcher
Endy is injury prone and still hasn’t proven he can hit major league pitching
Endy could still be a good get for someone in need of a catcher.
Hes still young for a catcher and is very well rounded everywhere
Just purely made of glass early on in his career
Can’t hit. Can’t throw. Not sure of how well rounded he is
Endy’s elbow is done as far as ever being a catcher again. He’s caught his last game.
Yes, Joey Bart
Joey Bart in trade package for Brohm incl. Lower ranked or unranked pitching prospect
Bring the prodigal son back home, jacob wilson in a package for Paul skenes.
Jacob wilson, Lawrence butler, Luis morales, Jamie arnold, colby thomas, tommy white and competitive balance pick for skenes and Dennis santana.
Coincidently skenes draft year A’s had worst record and among top 3 worst records in mlb but that was first year of draft lottery and they fell to 6th pick and took wilson
lay off the sauce, Skenes isn’t going anywhere
He will be soon enough. Wha does he have, 1 more year before arbitration? He will break the record and the Pirates will not want to pay him.
Agreed. I think he’s gone by 2029, trade deadline 2028 if the Bucs continue to stink
maybe, but it won’t happen this year
It’s funny to read the comments of vultures, isn’t it? They’ve poached for so long, they feel as if it’s an entitlement
Skenes isn’t going anywhere. Certainly not to the A’s unless the package starts with Kurtz
No one team has what it would take that would be reasonable for either side. That includes the As. They would give up all the offense that would be used around those two. and the other way.. the pirates are trying to build around skenes.
come back in a couple years when the As cannot afford his salary.
What you smokin
The Dodgers could offer Rushing, DePaula, Freeland, Sheehan and Ferris addressing some of Pittsburgh’s needs and they’d still say no.
And rightly so
Back up the truck and send all of your top prospects and get back to us
Those are the top prospects in the top farm.
Hahaha. That would never do it, 14
Did you read what I said?
Read joew’s comment below for a good response
if the dodgers included Ohtani and paying his deferred then its a deal 🙂
That’s a lot better than the A’s package that was floated. That would be about what it would take. Not sure if either team would pull the trigger.
🥱 stop it
What exactly does ‘a couple of infield bats from the left side’ mean? Left-handed hitters? SS and 3B? Both? An editor down there at MLBTR wouldn’t really lead to any diminishment of your overall writing, to be honest.
the left side of the infield
If you knew who the current players and their respective positions on this team, you wouldn’t need to ask
Title but it currently says “Pirates looking for a left side infielder,” as in left side of the infield.
there is also a quote from BC in there as well, “If we could add someone on the left side of the infield,….”
seems pretty clear.
Alec Bohm for Henry Davis after the Phillies sign Bichette
Pirates aren’t trading Davis
Bart is definitely on the block for the right return
I still believe in Davis. If Bohm was more than just a rental I’d say yes but I think they’d need more than just Bohm for someone under as much team control and potential upside as Davis.
Davis is turning into a really solid catcher defensively, and was drafted for his bat, so theres still hope there too.
Pirates can prob roll with Davis/Endy/Flores combo , although its still more ideal to keep Bart so the return has to be solid. Either a 3B or a pair of MLB ready pen arms if they address 3B elsewhere
Bohm at $10M has very little value.
make it Bart for Bohm and someone like Escobar headline and probably done deal with out much haggling from the pirates side.
1 year of Bohm an around average 3b offensively
Escobar an upper middle type prospect
Save probably 5-6million
couple years of Bart a bit below average offensively
Pirates sending a likely depth prospect with a utility or middle relief ceiling
seem fair.
But if the need is only catcher, going into the FA market probably a better option.
I’m not as frantic about getting a 3B as others. It would be a help for sure, but other than Suarez, I am fine with Triolo and Gonzales playing the positions and Griffin bumping out the least productive one to a utility player.
I gotta get off this attachment for marginal players but realistically the PIrates are not going to upgrade every position in one year. Triolo grades out well defensively but can’t seem to hit as a utility guy? Gonzales has pedigree. Has an ok bat but not a lot of power or on base. Really hasn’t had a lot of playing time.
I agree with this. All but Suarez is a marginal at best improvement over Triolo. I would strongly consider Andujar because he had a great year and can play both LF and 3B but I don’t see him floated as much as these marginal FAs who “specialize” at 3B even though they all play the position as well but have less power potential than Andujar.
Andujar is oddly undervalued. Seems like all he does it hit and never gets to stay on a team very long or get a full season of ab’s. Really not sure how his defense is at 3B but maybe worth a look? He should have never been let go from the team.
Triolo can hit LHP. Moncado is strong against RHP. There’s your platoon.
The point of adding a 3B is because someone needs to play SS and Gonzales is pretty poor there. You add a 3B so Triolo can slide over until Griffin is ready, which MAY be as soon as opening day but more realistically (given that he’s barely played at AA at this point and the realities of service time/Super 2) will be ASB-ish. It shouldn’t be The Plan at this point to count on Griffin/Triolo off the bat, at least not without a viable backup option should Griffin struggle in the spring.
I’m not
They add Lowe and O’Hearn. Thats all
The other guys are question marks who join a line up of question marks. I mean cmon, who do you have faith in within this lineup?
They need another bat, not another automatic out
I don’t know. Machado is pretty bad but his offense more than makes up for it.. With the pirates pitching I’d take it.
Triolo sliding to SS will also give him some cover and fill in at third as needed.
Really the over all defense from that side of the infield won’t change much than with what we currently got. as long as the offense shows its a fairly large win.
Of course Nick could get closer to what we thought he would be in which case, Nick and Triolo might be more than acceptable.
Pirates fans run on a lot of “ifs” and hope. Ben is changing that mentality a bit.
I’m guessing you meant Moncado and not Machado
I like you’re thinking here and agree but the title of this article is a bit off in this regard. If they are “open” to adding to their left side, then your thoughts here are probably their fall-back plan. I’m guessing this is what we’ll see if they’re merely “open” to adding someone. I’d love to see Griffin tear it up this spring and come north but that is more “if” and “hope” thinking
I’d hope that the Pirates are actively pursuing left side help with a guy who can hit a little too, for the aforementioned reasons.
I’m surprised and happily hopeful over what they’ve done this off season. I just don’t think it’s enough yet beyond the “if” factors. And I’m hoping when the chips start to fall shortly, Cherington is going to pursue options
No, Manny Machado. his glove isn’t what it used to be
The Reds have a 3Bman they can have.
No thanks, the Reds are welcome to keep him.
Mister Aloof. And to think they once thought of that kid as “cornerstone of the franchise”. What a laugh
Suarez is the last free agent 3b that would set them up for a division run that would have a price tag that isn’t going to cost 100m
If the Pirates sign Suarez, then theyre at minimum a legitimate wildcard contender
Let’s just say no to Suarez……his power will get sapped in PNC, and without the HR’s, he barely hits .200……..The only guys that will actually move the needle are Bregman (no chance), Bohm, Ketel Marte – let him play 3B, or Brendan Donovan – let him play 3B…..in a perfect world/video game simulation, we’d actually get Bellinger for LF and roll with Triolo and Konnor on the left side
He actually has done pretty well at PNC over his career. Granted that was against pirates pitching 😉
Yeah, agreed. Not like the left field wall is at 450 feet. But Bohm is a better fit, maybe not power-wise but all around better and younger at 3rd
on his career he is a .882 OPS in PNC over 60sum games with a home run every 17 PAs.
Sure he may not have the step he used too so legging out a double in the larger left field won’t be as easy but i rather a couple years of control of Suarez than a single year. of Bohm.
I think all but five or six of his HRs last year would have been out in PNC Park and they only play half of their games at home. He’d be just fine.
Suarez has played 65 games at PNC Park and has 13 HRs (plus 13 doubles and a triple.) That averages out to 32 HRs if he were to play all 162 games in PNC Park. People are always acting like no right-handed hitter can hit HRs at PNC Park. McCutchen has hit 111 career HRs at PNC and 333 extra base hits in 876 career games at PNC Park. Starling Marte has hit 46 home runs there in his career. Albert Pujols hit 35 HRs there in 102 career games. The good right-handed hitters are still going to get their fair share of power and extra base hits at PNC Park.
Suarez and Quintana. Then Griffin on opening day roster. I don’t expect Suarez or Griffin to happen but if it does I’ll start going to games again. May even sign up for SportsNet.
Vientos, Mauricio, and Acuña are all available from the Mets. Some combination of 2 of them for Keller could work.
Mauricio and Acuña can become utility players when Griffin comes up and Vientos can play 3B and 1B and ideally DH.
Problem is they already traded two starting guys from the rotation. If the Pirates want to compete this year, they need to ride the top three pitchers (Skenes, Keller, and Chandler).
I also don’t get why people keep saying trade Santana. He’s cheap (Nutting loves that), productive, and really the only closer on the roster. I don’t quite buy into the “any reliever can be a closer” argument.
I’d be happier trading off a prospect or two for the right guy. I’d say Harrington, top 100 just last year, had a down year, but still MLB ready plus a prospect around that 8-12 range in our system
They are saying trade him because he’s is a cheap rental that can bring back quality and they probably view the pirates system as their farm system ;-). They would have to have a reasonable replacement lined up before they pull the trigger
They have a handful of other pitchers that a are legit. Given a fair package for a 3b bat that is at least average all around with a bit of control trading Keller isn’t a bad idea but signin a quality veteran arm become mandatory.
Too much risk now in trading Keller. Beyond Skenes, you’d have way too much “unproven” young talent. Teams has their chance at Keller. He should be a no-go unless it’s done deal they just can’t refuse
Maybe you cannot be too careful, but they have 6 SPs that should be starting, though that includes Jones. Just like with the RS and Duran, you can be conservative, or you can fill known holes and hope for health.
Health is one thing, experience at the MLB level another.
Tell me you have six SPs who’ve all been starters for more than just a couple starts and I’ll agree
I’m figuring the Pirates offered Keller for Duran but Boston balked. I’m hoping Cherington now balks at any deal that includes him
Tucker. Bregman. Bichette. Spring training’s approach. I’m figuring when these 3 sign and the calendar moves a bit, the Pirates are going to have some opportunities without giving up the farm
Vientos is certainly an interesting option, but the Bucs can’t move Keller at this point.
If the Mets add a pitcher and Pirates add a position player prospect. it could work.
Sign Arenado from the Cardinals. They will pay him down to 5m AAV, leaving money for further boosting the lineup.
With that rotation, if not now, then when?
Arenado may say no.
Yoan Moncada and a Jose Quintana reunion make a lot of sense. While not world beaters Moncada, Lowe and O’Hearn would be a pretty significant upgrade to an offense that had only one above average bat last year and should help take the pressure off of Cruz and Reynolds. If they don’t get Moncada a trade for Bohm might be OK but PNC hurts righties. May just be as well to sign Luis Rengifo instead.
A Pirates fan asked about Paredes on TCB. Wonder if the Pirates actually are interested in Paredes.
Suarez would be the best fit. I wouldn’t mind Castro since he can play multiple positions and was a solid hitter up until the second half of 2025. Bohm doesn’t seem like a big enough upgrade over Triolo if he doesn’t play like he did in 2023-2024.
Pirates have Billy Murphy who was pitching coach of the Astros last few seasons – had been with Houston since the beginning of Framber
Framber folllows Murphy to Pittsburgh 3 years $90mil
Sign Geno 2 years $60 mil with his .885ops in PNC Park and league leading 15 oppo homeruns
Spend $12m total on one year deals for SeAnthony and bounce back Kopech
Round it out with a Victory Contract for Cutch and you have a world series contender
Isnt that the same amount of money they were reportedly offering to Schwaber?
Bucs should sign Chris Bassitt
40+ million.
Yeah, the premise forgets the idea that they’ve signed O’Hearn. I mean, I love the thinking but if it happens then someone really has been in Nutting’s ear this off season
What is with the love for Bohm by Pirates fans??? He’s basically a league average hitter, good but mehhh. His ISO continues to go down and he doesn’t get on base much for guy with higher than average BABIP. Not really good power numbers for a guy who plays in a hitter friendly bandstand either.
Plus he’s a free agent in 2027.
I guess he could be a stop gap but I don’t think he’ll do much in Pitt
A lot of the Pirate hitters are not league average.
Moncada and Gonsolin would be perfect. A versatile guy who can draw walks and a buy low option in Gonsolin.
Pirate fans say: Bring back Miguel Andjuar!
They definitely don’t need a shortstop. Griffin is ready to roll now!