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Ryan O'Hearn Ryan O'Hearn Gets $29 million from Pirates
Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 1:39 PM
The Pirates signed O'Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: He'll have the opportunity to stretch the total guarantee to $30 million if he reaches $500,000 in incentives each year of the deal. O'Hearn has slashed .277/.343/.445 over the last three regular seasons between the Orioles and Padres and made his first All-Star team in 2025. The left-handed hitter reversed a career trend and hit better versus lefties (.832 OPS) than righties (.795 OPS) in 2025, so he could be an everyday player in Pittsburgh. With Spencer Horwitz manning first base, O'Hearn will likely see most of his playing time at designated hitter. |
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Dominic Fletcher Dominic Fletcher Latches on with Pirates
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 4:32 PM
The Pirates signed Fletcher to a minor-league contract Monday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Fletcher elected free agency back in October after being removed from the White Sox' 40-man roster and he'll now head back to the National League. The 28-year-old has slashed only .233/.280/.325 in parts of three big-league seasons and, even with the Pirates' lack of outfield depth, will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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Marco Luciano Marco Luciano DFA'd by Bucs
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 7:13 PM
The Pirates designated Luciano for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Just two weeks after being claimed from San Francisco, Luciano will once again enter the waiver process following Pittsburgh's acquisitions of Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery on Friday. The 24-year-old Luciano -- once considered a top prospect in baseball -- could still be an attractive waiver target for other clubs despite his career .590 OPS in the big leagues. |
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Tsung-Che Cheng Tsung-Che Cheng Pushed off 40-man
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 7:08 PM
The Pirates designated Cheng for assignment Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: The Pirates needed to clear some roster space after bringing in three players via a three-team trade with Houston and Tampa Bay on Friday, and Cheng will end up as one of the casualties. The 24-year-old infielder made his MLB debut near the beginning of the season, going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts before being sent back to the minors. He didn't fare well at the plate in Triple-A either, slashing .209/.310/.271 with 36 RBI, 37 runs scored and 18 steals across 398 plate appearances at Indianapolis. |
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Mason Montgomery Mason Montgomery Lands with Pirates in trade
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:20 PM
The Pirates acquired Montgomery from the Rays on Friday in a three-team trade, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Analysis: Montgomery logged a 5.67 ERA and walked 27 over 46 innings with the Rays in 2025, but he also struck out 63 batters and, at 98.7 mph, has one of the hardest average four-seamer velocities in the game. The lefty has past starting experience, but the Pirates are likely to keep Montgomery in the bullpen, and he could work his way into high-leverage appearances. |
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Jake Mangum Jake Mangum Sent packing to Pittsburgh
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:13 PM
The Pirates acquired Mangum from the Rays on Friday in a three-team trade, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Analysis: Mangum had a successful rookie season in 2025 with the Rays, slashing .296/.330/.368 with three home runs and 27 stolen bases. He'll turn 30 in March but is under team control through 2030. Mangum could be the favorite to open the 2026 season as the Pirates' starting left fielder, and he's capable of handling all three outfield spots. |
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Brandon Lowe Brandon Lowe Goes to Pirates in three-team deal
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:01 PM
The Pirates acquired Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery from the Rays on Friday in a three-team trade that sent Mike Burrows to the Astros and Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Analysis: The Rays picked up Lowe's $11.5 million option for 2026 last month but will now ship him to another team. Lowe slashed .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs over 134 games with the Rays during the 2025 season. The 31-year-old will give the Pirates some much-needed thump to their lineup and also take over at a position of need in second base. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Back with Bucs
Thu, Dec 11, 2025, 8:18 PM
Simon (shoulder) signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Thursday.
Analysis: Simon was non-tendered by the Pirates in late November, but he's back with the organization. He presumably has an invitation to spring training, though that wasn't specified in the contract details. Simon is recovering from labrum surgery but is expected to be cleared to return in March. |
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Gregory Soto Gregory Soto Latches on with Pirates
Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 8:07 PM
Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Soto improved in nearly every major statistical category in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 4.18 ERA and 1.43 WHIP alongside 22 holds and a 70:24 K:BB over 60.1 innings between the Orioles and Mets. He'll receive a $2.4 million raise upon moving to the Pirates and is likely to remain in a high-leverage role; however, the majority of save opportunities will presumably continue going to Dennis Santana. |
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Marco Luciano Marco Luciano Claimed off waivers by Pirates
Fri, Dec 5, 2025, 3:13 PM
The Pirates claimed Luciano off waivers from the Giants on Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Luciano was one of the best prospects in baseball a few years ago, but he has not progressed as hoped, slashing just .217/.286/.304 over 41 games in the majors and .227/.351/.401 at the Triple-A level. He's still just 24, though, so the Pirates felt he was worth a roll of the dice. Luciano -- who does not have minor-league options remaining -- has primarily been a shortstop but shifted to left field at Triple-A Sacramento in 2025. It's unclear at this point what position the Pirates have planned for him. |
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Jhostynxon Garcia Jhostynxon Garcia Dealt to Pittsburgh
Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 6:43 PM
Garcia was traded from the Red Sox to the Pirates on Thursday in exchange for Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The Pirates are reportedly more willing to be aggressive to upgrade their roster this offseason, and Garcia will add some much-needed potential power to their lineup. He made a very brief appearance in the majors with the Red Sox in late August but tallied only nine plate appearances. Garca otherwise had a solid campaign in the upper levels of the minors in 2025, consistently hitting about 15 percent above league average at 22 years old, and he should immediately have the chance to win the starting left field job for the Pirates this spring. |
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Enmanuel Valdez Enmanuel Valdez Back in action in winter ball
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 3:45 PM
Valdez (shoulder) has returned to game action with the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valdez underwent season-ending surgery in May to repair a dislocated left shoulder, but he's played three winter ball games and smacked a grand slam in his third contest for Estrellas on Sunday. Slated to turn 27 later this month, Valdez slashed .209/.294/.363 with two home runs and an 11:16 BB:K over 102 plate appearances for Pittsburgh before getting hurt. It seems Valdez will ready to roll for the start of spring training and he'll compete for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster in 2026. |
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Yohan Ramirez Yohan Ramirez Avoids arbitration
Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 7:16 PM
Ramirez and the Pirates agreed to a one-year, $825,000 contract Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ramirez had been looking at arbitration if he and Pittsburgh had not been able to agree upon a deal. The Dominican reliever appeared in 24 games with the Pirates in 2025, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 45:16 K:BB over 33.1 innings while notching one hold and a 3-3 record. |
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Jack Suwinski Jack Suwinski Avoids arbitration with Pirates
Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 5:52 PM
Suwinski signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Pirates on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Suwinski struggled to get in a groove at the plate in the majors in 2025, finishing the season with just a .534 OPS through 178 plate appearances. He turned in a .954 OPS across 230 plate appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis, however, which was good enough to earn him a $465,000 raise and another year in the organization. The 27-year-old finished the year as Pittsburgh's primary left fielder but is sure to face some competition during spring training. |
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Noah Murdock Noah Murdock Inks MiLB pact with Pirates
Wed, Nov 19, 2025, 10:32 AM
The Pirates signed Murdock to a minor-league contract Nov. 14.
Analysis: Murdock made 14 appearances for the Athletics this past season after being taken in the Rule 5 Draft but was returned to the Royals after posting a 13.24 ERA over 17 innings. The 27-year-old has a 4.55 ERA and 66:39 K:BB across 59.1 frames at the Triple-A level. |
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Dauri Moreta Dauri Moreta DFA'd by Pirates
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 5:44 PM
The Pirates designated Moreta for assignment Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Moreta turned in a 3.24 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 16.2 innings with the Pirates in 2025, and he also finished with a 2.43 ERA over 37 frames at Triple-A Indianapolis. Despite his strong performance, he'll lose his place on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster to make room for a wave of prospects, though another club may be interested in claiming Moreta off waivers. |
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Ronny Simon Ronny Simon Designated for assignment
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 5:40 PM
The Pirates designated Simon (shoulder) for assignment Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Simon appeared in 27 MLB games in 2025 between Miami and Pittsburgh, slashing just .234/.299/.273 across 88 plate appearances. He finished the Triple-A season with an .844 OPS over 308 plate appearances, however, which may be good enough for another team to bring him in via waiver claim. |
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Alexander Canario Alexander Canario Loses 40-man spot
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 5:36 PM
The Pirates designated Canario for assignment Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Canario slashed .218/.274/.338 with 20 RBI and 25 runs scored across 234 plate appearances with the Pirates in 2025. He'll now end up as one of the roster casualties necessary to clear room for the six prospects Pittsburgh added to its 40-man Tuesday. |
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Colin Holderman Colin Holderman Dropped from 40-man
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 5:23 PM
The Pirates designated Holderman for assignment Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: With the Pirates adding six prospects to their 40-man roster in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, Holderman will end up as one of the casualties necessary to clear space. The 30-year-old righty wasn't quite his usual self in 2025, finishing the year with a 7.01 ERA and 1.95 WHIP across 25.2 innings after entering the season with a 3.58 ERA across his three years in the bigs. His previous performance may draw some attention from other bullpen-needy teams browsing the waiver wire. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Unanimously wins NL Cy Young Award
Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 7:10 PM
Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Skenes received all 30 first-place votes after finishing the year with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP alongside a 216:42 K:BB across 187.2 innings. He joins Vern Law and Doug Drabek on the list of Pirates to take home the award after the latter two did so in 1960 and 1990, respectively. |
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