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Brandon Lowe is a key Pirates’ offseason addition.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan named the Pittsburgh Pirates among his offseason winners in his latest MLB free agency analysis, marking a significant shift for a franchise that hasn’t signed a multi-year free agent position player since Ivan Nova a decade ago.
The Pirates made many key acquisitions this winter, highlighted by trading for second baseman Brandon Lowe and signing first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal.
“Fast forward two months. Pittsburgh traded for second baseman Brandon Lowe and signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (two years, $29 million),” Passan wrote for ESPN. “The Pirates aren’t done, either, and while they aren’t flush enough to play in the Tucker-Bichette-Bellinger sandbox, they’re approaching a $100 million payroll for the first time.”
The moves address a specific weakness that plagued Pittsburgh throughout the 2025 season—their inability to produce against right-handed pitching.
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Moves Addressed Massive 2025 Concern
Pittsburgh ranked 29th in the league in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against right-handed pitching in 2025, according to FanGraphs. The team also finished dead last—30th out of 30 teams—in isolated power (ISO) against righties, and couldn’t muster any consistent run support for Paul Skenes and company.
The additions of Lowe and O’Hearn specifically target this weakness, providing two left-handed power bats to give the Bucs’ lineup a jolt.
Lowe, acquired from Tampa Bay in a December trade that also brought lefty reliever Mason Montgomery and outfielder Jake Mangum to Pittsburgh, posted a 114 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers in 2025. The two-time All-Star hit 26 of his 31 home runs against right-handed pitching while batting .280 against them.
O’Hearn, who split time between Baltimore and San Diego last season, hit .281 overall and slugged 14 home runs in 377 at-bats against right-handed pitchers.
According to projected Opening Day lineups, Pittsburgh will feature five hitters who struck out roughly 20% of the time or less against right-handed pitching last season. The lineup, of course, also includes shortstop Oneil Cruz, who set the Statcast record for hardest-hit ball in history at 122.9 mph in May 2025.
More Bucs’ Acquisitions Bring Plenty of Depth and Upside
Beyond the headliner moves, Pittsburgh acquired several pieces to add depth across the roster. The Pirates signed left-handed reliever Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal to bolster the bullpen.
Mason Montgomery, who came over in the Lowe trade, appeared in brief stints with Tampa Bay over the last two seasons as one of their highly regarded pitching prospects. The team also landed outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, nicknamed “The Password,” from Boston in a five-player December trade. Garcia ranks as Pittsburgh’s No. 6 prospect and No. 85 overall according to MLB Pipeline.
“Some big-time power that he brings and just the ability to play all three outfield positions,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said at the Orlando Winter Meetings, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf. “Looks like he’s an above-average outfielder. … All the reports we’ve gotten back and the video we’ve gotten to watch, we’re really excited to add a young project of his caliber to this team.”
Garcia hit 21 home runs with a .470 slugging percentage last season and could see time in Pittsburgh in 2026 at age 23.
Oddsmakers Acknowledge Pirates’ Additions
The Pirates’ projected 2026 win total currently sits at 75.5, marking a four-to-five-win improvement over their 71-win 2025 campaign, which included a last-place NL Central finish.
Oddsmakers are factoring in the roster improvements Pittsburgh made this winter, particularly the additions of left-handed power against right-handed pitching.
Passan noted in his ESPN analysis that while the Pirates’ offseason activity is “not necessarily a reason to celebrate,” it represents “one step in a direction with which Pittsburgh is eminently unfamiliar” after years of limited spending. The franchise is approaching a $100 million payroll for the first time in team history.
Pittsburgh will look to leverage these additions alongside their young pitching talent, including the reigning Cy Young Award winner Skenes and top prospect Konnor Griffin, who currently ranks as MLB’s No. 1 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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