Report: Pirates interested in Schwarber, tried to sign Naylor
The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be quite serious about reeling in a big fish this winter.
Pittsburgh is one of several teams in pursuit of free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. The Bucs had also been chasing first baseman Josh Naylor before he re-signed with the Seattle Mariners on Monday, Passan adds.
The Pirates, who fielded a bottom-four payroll last season, have never been big spenders in free agency. Their biggest contract ever given to a free agent was a three-year, $39-million deal with Francisco Liriano in 2015, and they haven't signed any free agent to a multi-year deal since Iván Nova in 2016. However, general manager Ben Cherington said earlier in November that the franchise has "more (payroll) flexibility" than in previous offseasons.
Pittsburgh will have to pony up a lot more than $39 million in order to lure Schwarber - arguably the top available power bat - to the Steel City. The 32-year-old was the 2025 NL MVP runner-up after posting a career-best .928 OPS with an NL-leading 56 homers and MLB-best 132 RBIs over 162 games as the Philadelphia Phillies' primary designated hitter. He could end up getting a deal that averages over $30 million per year, according to Passan.
Schwarber could be a perfect fit in the middle of the Pirates' lineup at DH and would undoubtedly enjoy aiming for PNC Park's 320-foot right-field porch while providing veteran leadership in a young clubhouse. Perhaps more importantly, though, landing him would give the perpetually floundering Bucs some newfound credibility throughout the baseball world.
Despite losing 91 games in 2025, the Pirates have perhaps the sport's best pitcher in NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, who's expressed a desire to win in Pittsburgh. The team seems ready to try and build a contender around him before he reaches free agency in 2029. The Bucs have posted a winning record just four times since 1994 and last won a World Series in 1979.
Although their pursuit of Naylor fell short, the Pirates were open to offering him more than double what they gave Liriano a decade ago, according to Passan. Naylor ended up returning to Seattle on a five-year, $92.5-million deal.