Black Friday Deals: Potential Free Agent Bargains for Pirates
The early indication this offseason is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be more aggressive than they have been since… well ever.
They’ve been linked to higher profile bats such as Kyle Schwarber and others. Now, interest doesn’t mean much until a deal comes to fruition. Even if it’s not Schwarber — who seems unlikely — it’s seems quite possible the Pirates will sign a free agent to a multi-year contract for the first time under Ben Cherington.
But even if Pittsburgh lands a higher-impact player via free agency, there will still be other holes on the roster that will need to be addressed.
While the hope among Pirates’ fans is the team will shop in a different aisle than they traditionally have, Pittsburgh will still be looking for affordable players to help round out their roster.
Here are some potential bargains that could fit.
Rhys Hoskins
The Pirates aren’t ruling out a first baseman. They apparently had interest in Josh Naylor before he re-signed with the Seattle Mariners for five years. Spencer Horwitz was Pittsburgh’s best hitter last year but struggled against lefties.
Enter Hoskins. A thumb injury put the 32-year-old on the injured list for a month and a half. He only suited up for 90 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025 and slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI. In his career against left-handed pitching, Hoskins has an .882 OPS and a solid .797 OPS against righties.
Hoskins can serve as a platoon partner with Horwitz and the Pirates can find other ways to get him at-bats, whether at designated hitter or playing Horwitz more at second base.
Steven Matz
Matz split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox and was used primarily as a reliever for the first time in his 11-year big-league career.
It was a strong season for the 34-year-old left-hander. In 53 combined appearances between St. Louis and Boston, Matz went 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA and a pair of saves.
Although offense should be the main focus for the Pirates this winter, there is also a need in the bullpen — particularly a left-handed option.
Sung Mun Song
There are three international players generating the most buzz this offseason. Starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai and sluggers Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. But there’s a fourth option that could be an option for the Pirates.
Song was recently posted from the KBO and is free to negotiate with teams across the league. The 29-year-old had a successful career in Korea. This past season, the left-handed hitter slashed .315/.387/.530 with 37 doubles, four triples, 26 home runs, 90 RBI and 25 steals.
He’s played third base, second and first in his career and could solve the Pirates’ void at the hot corner.
Mike Tauchman
Tacuhman was non-tendered by the Chicago White Sox despite a successful first season in the South Side of Chicago.
In only 93 games, the 34-year-old posted a 1.9 bWAR and slashed .263/.356/.400 with 17 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 40 RBI. In 310 games over the past three seasons, Tacuhman carries a .255/.359/.381 batting line (108 OPS+). He could be an answer at a corner outfield spot alongside Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds.
Tauchman had knee surgery at the end of the year so a physical will he important.
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