MLB trade rumours: Pirates eye $66mn ex-Reds star to boost rotation
Pittsburgh Pirates are actively seeking a power boost for their lineup, eyeing free agent Eugenio Suárez. The team, which struggled with home runs in 2025, sees Suárez as a direct solution. A potential sign-and-trade with Seattle is also being explored, offering a win-win scenario for both clubs and Suárez himself.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes (Image via Getty)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for a clear fix to a problem that has lingered for years: a lack of power in the middle of the lineup. After finishing last in home runs in 2025, the front office is exploring options that can make an immediate difference.
One name drawing steady interest is Eugenio Suarez, a free-agent third baseman coming off one of the most productive power seasons in baseball.Pittsburgh has already added Ryan O’Hearn and traded for Brandon Lowe, but third base remains unsettled. Suarez’s free agency gives the Pirates a chance to add a proven power hitter without giving up prospects right away, something that fits their current approach as they try to stay competitive while managing payroll.
Why Eugenio Suarez Is on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Radar
The interest in Pittsburgh Pirates is driven by numbers. The team hit just 117 home runs in 2025 and ranked near the bottom in slugging and isolated power. Eugenio Suarez directly addresses that weakness. He hit 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs, finishing among the league leaders in both categories, even with a .228 batting average.Suarez is 34, listed at 5-foot-11 and 213 pounds, and brings experience to a young roster.
His power has also translated well at PNC Park, where he owns an .882 OPS over 65 career games.
A Sign-and-Trade Scenario That Makes Sense
Eugenio Suarez when he was in Seattle Mariners (Image via Getty)
Rather than a straight signing, one idea being discussed is a sign-and-trade. Pittsburgh could sign Suarez to a projected three-year, $63 million deal, then move him to the Seattle Mariners for prospects or a controllable arm such as Emerson Hancock. Seattle’s familiarity with Suarez lowers the risk, while the Pirates could shift Jared Triolo or Nick Gonzales to shortstop to balance the roster.
What Each Side Gets
Party
Key Gains
Pirates
Power bat fixes last-ranked slugging (.350) and ISO (.119); veteran presence for young players like Paul Skenes
Mariners
Proven power hitter added quickly without a long-term commitment
Suárez
Everyday role with lineup protection from Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn