After the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Ryan O’Hearn to their first multi-year free agent contract in almost a decade, Ben Cherington admitted that it was a “different feeling” to be a spender this offseason.
The Pirates general manager has signed left-handed reliever Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal, acquired a top-100 prospect in outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from Boston and two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty reliever Mason Montgomery from Tampa Bay in separate trades and signed an All-Star slugger in O’Hearn on a two-year, $29 million deal.
And Cherington’s work isn’t done.
The remaining priorities include adding another pitcher to the starting rotation and, perhaps, to the bullpen. Cherington also would like to add another position player, preferably to the left side of the infield. With one of the top farm systems in baseball, especially in terms of pitching, he can trade from a position of depth and strength.
Cherington expressed confidence that the Pirates will continue to add to their roster before the start of spring training in mid-February.
“We feel good about the progress we’ve made. Not satisfied. There’s more we want to do,” Cherington said Thursday at PNC Park. “Every day between now and opening day is an opportunity to go find something to get better. You don’t know when it’s going to land. I don’t know what things will land. We just have to keep working at it.”
Where the Pirates ranked in MLB’s top 10 in ERA, WHIP, batting average-against and walks last season, they finished dead last in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS. Adding O’Hearn (17 home runs, 63 RBIs) and Lowe (31 homers, 83 RBIs) not only adds pop to the lineup but provides protection that should allow Bryan Reynolds (16 homers, 73 RBIs) and Oneil Cruz (20 homers, 61 RBIs) to thrive.
That’s enticing to Pirates manager Don Kelly, who wouldn’t reveal what his batting order would look like but believes it has the potential to be “formidable” this season.
“When we talk about the power, the power is great,” Kelly said. “The one thing that stands out to me is the hitters that they are.”
With Lowe at second base and O’Hearn spending at least a share of time at first base — he can also play the corner outfield spots and designated hitter — the left side of the infield is the most pressing concern.
The Pirates have baseball’s top prospect in 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, a five-tool talent who could be given a chance to make the major league club in spring training. Meantime, Cherington has expressed confidence in 2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales and especially Jared Triolo, a 2024 Gold Glove utility winner and 2025 finalist who started at least 10 games at four positions and batted .276/.353/.422 with 18 extra-base hits in the second half.
“We certainly believe he can (be a starter),” Cherington said. “He’s been a good major league player for a while, really. He’s always been able to help the team do a lot of things to help the team win games. Feel like he took another step forward this past season. Exactly what role that is, I don’t think we know yet. We’re confident with him at shortstop. We’re confident in him at third base. We’re also confident with him being on the team and playing six spots and moving around. It could be any of those. We’ll have time in spring training to sort that out.”
Triolo started 44 games at shortstop compared to 12 by Gonzales, who played primarily at second base, so he could serve as the stopgap at the position until Griffin makes his major league debut. That would leave a hole at third base that Cherington could try to fill through a trade.
A pair of prominent third basemen who are both right-handed hitters could be available but would come at a steep cost.
After acquiring Carlos Correa at the trade deadline, the Houston Astros could be willing to deal Isaac Paredes. The 26-year-old, a two-time All-Star, batted .254/.352/.458 with 15 doubles, 20 homers and 53 RBIs in 102 games despite missing two months with a severe right hamstring strain. Paredes and the Astros are headed to arbitration after the sides couldn’t come to agreement, with Paredes seeking $9.95 million and Houston offering $8.75 million.
If the Philadelphia Phillies sign Bo Bichette, they might be willing to part with 29-year-old third baseman Alec Bohm. A 2024 All-Star, Bohm batted .287/.331/.409 with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 59 RBIs last year but is slated to make $10.2 million in his final season before reaching free agency.
As for starting pitching, Cherington has signed a free-agent left-handed starter each year, with Tyler Anderson, Jose Quintana, Rich Hill and Martin Perez serving as innings eaters while Derek Holland and Andrew Heaney didn’t fare as well.
If the Pirates want another lefty, they could attempt a reunion with Anderson or Quintana or try to sign someone like Nestor Cortes or Jordan Montgomery. It’s also possible they go with an all-righty starting rotation headlined by 2025 NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
“We want to make the team better, first and foremost,” Cherington said. “But we also want the feeling walking into Bradenton to be that there’s just one thing that matters, and that’s winning baseball games. That’s clear to everybody and that our decisions are supporting that.”
