Pirates Listed as Potential Fit for Trent Grisham, Luis Arráez and Other Top Free Agents
Free agency is right around the corner, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are already game planning for a crucial winter as they look to finally break from mediocrity and look to push for the postseason for the first time in a decade.
The Pirates have obvious holes to fill, notably in the lineup and in the bullpen. Though the Pirates have historically shied away from substantial free agent splashes, there’s mounting pressure that could lead to some relatively larger swings.
No, there will be neither players featured in MVP betting, nor players in the World Series prop bets, but there is some available talent for the Pirates to pick at.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden released his list of top 50 free agents with contract predictions and potential landing spots, and he has the Pirates as fits for several free agents.
OF Trent Grisham
- Rank: 24
- Potential fits: Pirates, Yankees, Rockies, Twins, White Sox, Angels
- Contract prediction: 2 years, $30 million
Grisham is coming off a strong season with the Yankees in which he slashed .235/.348/.464 and set career-highs in home runs (34) and RBI (74) in 143 games.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old hit under the Mendoza Line each of the last three seasons before his breakout 2025 campaign. While his offense improved, his usual strong defense was not on display, but a shift to one of the corners could remedy those concerns and would make sense for the Pirates with Oneil Cruz in center field.
Bowden’s $15 million projected AAV would set a franchise record for the Pirates in free agency.
1B/OF/DH Ryan O’Hearn
- Rank: 27
- Potential fits: Pirates, Padres, Twins, Rays
- Contract prediction: 2 years, $24 million
O’Hearn was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, a year he split between the Orioles and Padres. In 144 games between the two clubs, the 32-year-old hit .281/.366/.437 with 21 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 63 RBI.
O’Hearn spent most of his career at first base and has played some corner outfield. He doesn’t grade particularly well defensively, but the Pirates are desperate for offense and could have an opening at DH depending on what happens with Andrew McCutchen.
1B/2B/DH Luis Arráez
- Rank: 29
- Potential fits: Pirates, Padres, A’s, Rockies, White Sox, Angels
- Contract prediction: 2 years, $30 million
Arráez would give the Pirates — or any team — a throwback player. He doesn’t strikeout or hit for power but puts the ball in play and won three-straight batting titles from 2022-24.
In 154 games with the Padres this past season, Arráez hit .292 with a .719 OPS and led the National League with 181 hits. He only struck out 21 times across 675 plate appearances.
RHP Emilio Pagán
- Rank: 33
- Potential fits: Pirates, Reds, A’s, Giants, Nationals, Rockies
- Contract prediction: 2 years, $22 million
The Pirates are quite familiar with Pagán, who spent the last two seasons with the Reds and became the full-time closer in 2024. It was an excellent season for the right-hander, who posted a 2.88 ERA and converted 34 save opportunities.
Pagán would be a nice addition to the bullpen, but it would probably be wiser for the Pirates to spend more money in other ways than on a reliever who will turn 35 in May.
RHP Ryan Helsley
- Rank: 37
- Potential fits: Pirates, A’s, Tigers, Giants, Rays
- Contract prediction: 1 year, $10 million
Helsley emerged as one of the top closers with the Cardinals, twice being named an All-Star and leading baseball with 49 saves a year ago.
It was more of the same initally for Helsley, who began the season with the Cardinals and pitched well before a disastrous showing with the Mets following a trade at the deadline.
Given that he’s likely looking for a one-year “prove it” deal, he makes more sense for the Pirates than someone like Pagán.
RHP Nick Martinez
- Rank: 39
- Potential fits: Pirates, Reds, A’s, Rockies, Twins
- Contract prediction: 1 year, $11 million
The Pirates could benefit from adding a swingman — someone who can pitch out of the bullpen or start when needed — and Martinez has played that role since returning to MLB in 2022 after spending four seasons in Japan.
The 35-year-old made 40 appearances/26 starts and went 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA across a career-high 165.2 innings.
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Would love to see few of these signing like Grisham to fill a corner helsey& Martinez to help the pen ….. but unless Nutting get a concussion & forgets he’s a penny pinching cheap skate of an owner it won’t happen
I BELIEVE THAT SAME LIST SHOWED NO PIRATE/PLAYER INTEREST AMONG THE FIRST 30 FAs ON THE LIST, SO THEY ARE BACK TO “DUMPSTE DIVING,” AGAIN.
(EXCUSE ALL CAPS, I HIT THE WRONG KEY.)
No thanks.
Sign those bats!! Plural….sign those bats!!!
Why even post these kinds of articles? It’s kind of like Rumbunter pretending they have inside information.
Last year “experts” had the Bucs signing Tyler O’Neil to a three year deal in free agency. It’s like they forget how this team operates.
We’re going to sign Max Kepler and Paul Dejong and you’re going to accept it, mister!!!
I know that writers need to write but I ignore these articles because it is all speculation and it serves no purpose. There are hundreds of players out there the Pirates could sign or trade for and the Pirates will choose someone, and you have no idea who that will be. Just wait until the Pirates sign someone and you don’t have to speculate.