The Pittsburgh Pirates are at a pivotal moment as they aim to revamp their offense, which was notably the weakest in the league during the 2025 season. They've made strides in this area, yet one glaring gap remains unaddressed: the need for a third baseman. This need has been apparent ever since the team traded Ke'Bryan Hayes, along with the financial obligations of his contract, to the Cincinnati Reds at the previous season's trade deadline.
Initially, Eugenio Suárez appeared to be the ideal candidate to fill this void. As a right-handed hitter with a wealth of experience, Suárez had an impressive season last year, hitting 49 home runs. His presence would have complemented the left-handed hitters the Pirates have recently added to their roster. As he lingered in free agency, hope grew among Pirates fans that the organization would successfully secure his services.
However, the reality is that Suárez has chosen to join Hayes in Cincinnati, thus marking yet another missed opportunity for the Pirates in their quest for impactful free agents. He was the last significant bat available on the market that could have effectively filled the team's needs at third base. Despite this setback, there are still potential avenues for the Pirates to explore in their pursuit of a suitable third baseman.
One viable option is to consider a trade for Mark Vientos of the New York Mets. Although Vientos experienced a decline in performance during the 2025 season following a breakout year in 2024, his statistics still hold promise. Last year, he posted a batting average of .233, an on-base percentage of .289, and a slugging percentage of .413 over 121 games, hitting 17 home runs. This resulted in a weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) score of 97, indicating that he was just shy of league average offensively. In contrast, he had a standout season in 2024 where he demonstrated his potential as a three-win player with an OPS of .837 and 27 home runs in only 454 plate appearances.
While Vientos's track record is not as extensive as Suárez's—he is just 26 years old compared to Suárez's upcoming 35—there are noteworthy similarities between the two. Both players exhibit comparable metrics in terms of expected Weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA), hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, and whiff rate, suggesting that Vientos has the tools to develop into a significant contributor.
When comparing their statistics from last season, we see:
- Eugenio Suárez: xwOBA of .320, hard-hit percentage of 47.6%, average exit velocity of 90.2 mph, and a whiff rate of 33.3%.
- Mark Vientos: xwOBA of .320, hard-hit percentage of 50.5%, average exit velocity of 91.4 mph, and a lower whiff rate of 32.5%.
These numbers indicate that while Suárez boasted more power last season, Vientos’s batted ball metrics were quite competitive, and he managed to strike out less frequently.
Suárez was appealing to the Pirates mainly due to his impressive power, which is not limited to pulling the ball, despite some concerns about his defensive abilities and tendency to strike out a lot. Vientos offers a similar profile, but with a crucial difference: the cost of acquisition. While Suárez commanded a hefty $15 million on the free-agent market—along with the likelihood of needing additional funds for a guaranteed contract extension—Vientos would likely require a trade involving upper-level pitching prospects instead.
Moreover, Vientos is not yet eligible for salary arbitration, meaning he would play at near the MLB minimum in 2026, with three additional years of affordable team control following that. Bringing in a player like him could be more financially prudent for the Pirates compared to investing large sums in an aging and potentially declining free agent.
Acquiring a third baseman who is pre-arbitration would also leave the Pirates with financial flexibility, allowing them to seek further enhancements to their roster, whether that involves adding another bat, such as Marcell Ozuna, or reinforcing their already strong pitching lineup. Reports suggest that the Pirates were actively pursuing Framber Valdez before he signed with Detroit, highlighting their desire to bolster the pitching staff.
It’s concerning that the third-base situation remains unresolved, especially considering that the offseason has been characterized by speculation rather than concrete actions since the notable signings of Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn over a month ago. However, until the Pirates officially place Jared Triolo at the hot corner, the search for an upgrade continues. The hope is that the Pirates can identify a solution that not only addresses their immediate needs but also keeps other possibilities open for improvement.
