Ryan O’Hearn Signs With the Pittsburgh Pirates

This isn’t just a depth signing. This is a statement. For a fanbase accustomed to watching talent leave town for bigger paychecks, seeing the front office shell out nearly $30 million for a veteran bat feels like a fever dream.

O’Hearn is coming off a career-defining 2025 season where he finally put it all together. We aren’t talking about a guy scraping by; O’Hearn earned his first All-Star nod last year, slashing .281 with 17 home runs and posting a 3.0 WAR. For a Pirates offense that spent most of last season looking like they were swinging wiffle ball bats, O’Hearn provides instant credibility in the middle of the order.

What makes this signing fascinating is O’Hearn’s evolution. He spent years in Kansas City looking like a player who was too good for the minors, but not quite enough for the big leagues. But his revitalization in Baltimore and his subsequent productive stint with the Padres showed he’s a late bloomer who figured out how to hit big-league pitching consistently. Perhaps most importantly, he crushed the narrative that he can’t hit southpaws, posting an .832 OPS against lefties last season.

How O’Hearn Fits the Pirates’ New Look

The addition is the cherry on top of a very busy week for General Manager Ben Cherington. This signing comes hot on the heels of a massive three-team trade that netted Second Baseman Brandon Lowe and Outfielder Jake Mangum, plus the acquisition of reliever Gregory Soto. Suddenly, the Pirates lineup looks solid.

O’Hearn offers defensive versatility, capable of manning first base or the corner outfield, though his glove at first graded out excellently last season with +6 Fielding Run Value. He gives Manager Don Kelly options. You can slot O’Hearn into the cleanup spot to protect Oneil Cruz or Bryan Reynolds, forcing pitchers to actually throw strikes rather than pitching around the stars.

Is Pittsburgh Finally a Contender?

Let’s not plan the parade route just yet. But there is a palpable shift in emotion surrounding this team. The Pirates have historically been the “farm system” for the rest of the league, developing stars only to trade them away. Signing a 32-year-old veteran like O’Hearn to a multi-year deal suggests the front office believes their competitive window is opening now.

It’s been a long, cold winter for Pittsburgh baseball for the better part of a decade. But with O’Hearn inked and the roster improved, spring training in Bradenton is going to feel a whole lot warmer.