The word on the street is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be active in free agency.
Whether it’s spending $30-40 million, having interest in Josh Naylor, or putting together a roster surrounding
Paul Skenes that can win meaningful games, the Pirates need to do whatever it takes to win.
As Skenes said after winning the Cy Young: “Talk is cheap.” What matters is the actions they bring. The words and reports in the media are nice and one thing, but actually following through with it is a COMPLETELY different story.
On Monday, longtime MLB reporter and host Ken Rosenthal reported in the New York Times that the Pirates are interested in a different set of hitters we hadn’t heard many rumblings about just yet.
Rosenthal confirmed Jeff Passan of ESPN’s report that the Pirates have interest in DH Kyle Schwarber.
Rosenthal also said the organization is “considering” infielders Jorge Polanco (Mariners), Ryan O’Hearn (Padres), and Kazuma Okamoto (Japan) as free-agent options. He said these players are viewed as more realistic potential additions to their lineup.
Polanco helped Seattle reach Game 7 of the World Series and hit .208 in the playoffs with three home runs and eight RBIs, being a timely hitter despite the low batting average. He finished the regular season at .265 with 30 doubles, 26 home runs, and 78 RBIs from the left side of the plate, playing shortstop and second base.
O’Hearn was traded from Baltimore to San Diego at the deadline. The lefty first baseman/right fielder slashed .281/.366/.437 with an .803 OPS in 144 games between the two leagues. He hit 21 doubles and career highs in homers (17) and RBIs (63). Both Polanco and O’Hearn are 32.
Okamoto, 29, is a versatile defender capable of playing either corner infield or outfield position. He put together 15 home runs and 51 RBIs through 77 total games in Japan this season and is set to join Major League Baseball. He hit as many as 41 home runs in 2023 and has 277 in his 11-year career.
In the report, Rosenthal reported that there are some agents who believe it is “no coincidence” that the Pirates and Miami Marlins are looking to spend one year before the CBA is up. The clubs claim that their hope to spend is because of the opportunity in front of them with their current group of players.
The Pirates have arguably the most talented young rotation in baseball. Skenes is coming off his first Cy Young Award after winning Rookie of the Year. Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, Johan Oviedo, Braxton Ashcraft, and Mike Burrows are all in the group of young, controllable pitchers the Pirates can build their team around to go for it.
Rosenthal states that the team’s final luxury-tax payroll is being targeted around $105 million, satisfying the CBA outlined threshold.
The Pirates haven’t been around $100 million since 2016, nearly 10 seasons ago. Ben Cherington enters his sixth season as general manager with something to prove, and not much faith from a desperate fan base clinging to hope and a minimal track record with the team.
Signing Kyle Schwarber feels unrealistic for a team whose highest free agent contract was 3 years, $39 million for Francisco Liriano.
The Pirates have a golden opportunity to strike while they have a player who could go down as the greatest pitcher in baseball history.
If the Pirates fail to properly support Skenes and sign quality hitters this winter, it’s a disservice not just to Skenes, the team, and the city, but to all of the baseball world.
