Pirates Avoid Arbitration, Sign Outfielder Jack Suwinski for $1.25M

The Pittsburgh Pirates just made a calculated move to keep outfielder Jack Suwinski, signing him to a one-year, $1.25 million contract and avoiding arbitration.

Even though his numbers took a nosedive the last two seasons, the Pirates still see some value in him—on the field and financially—if he can somehow tap back into that 2023 breakout version of himself.

They also reached a similar arbitration-avoidance deal with right-hander Yohan Ramirez.

Both moves show the front office is working to finalize the roster before spring training sneaks up.

Pirates Betting on a Suwinski Comeback

Jack Suwinski’s career has been anything but predictable. After a breakout 2023 where he hit .224 with 26 home runs and 74 RBIs, it looked like he might actually carve out a long-term role in Pittsburgh’s outfield.

But 2024 hit hard: .182 average, only nine homers, 26 RBIs in 88 games, and a rough minus-1.7 bWAR. Not exactly what you want to see, especially with MLB Trade Rumors projecting his arbitration at $1.7 million.

From Breakout Star to Roster Uncertainty

With those struggles, a lot of people thought the Pirates might just non-tender Suwinski. His batting average dropped even below his rookie numbers, which is tough to watch.

Still, the Pirates made some moves—designating outfielders Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon for assignment—which actually cleared a path for Suwinski to stick around in 2025.

Current Outfield Landscape

The 40-man roster is a mashup of established players and some prospects who are still trying to prove themselves. Right now, along with Suwinski, there’s:

• Oneil Cruz
• Bryan Reynolds
• Billy Cook
• Will Robertson
• Prospect Esmerlyn Valdez

This group gives Pittsburgh some depth, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty. Suwinski isn’t guaranteed anything—the new contract doesn’t lock him into a big-league spot after spring training.

If he doesn’t make the team, the Pirates can just release him, and he’ll walk away with a bit more than the league minimum. It’s a small financial risk for the Pirates, all things considered, and really comes down to whether Suwinski can deliver.

The Low-Cost, High-Upside Strategy

If Suwinski somehow finds his 2023 form again, the Pirates get a steal. They’d still have team control over him for three more years, so a power bat could stick around for cheap.

For a team that’s always juggling payroll and player development, that’s got to be tempting.

Yohan Ramirez Also Secured

Suwinski’s deal got more attention, but the Pirates also locked up Yohan Ramirez with a one-year, $825,000 contract. Ramirez had a rough 2025—5.40 ERA in 33⅓ innings isn’t pretty.

He’ll probably be used as bullpen depth, but he needs to get his command under control if he wants to see more consistent action.

Building Stability in the Bullpen

The Pirates want to keep some experienced arms around, and Ramirez fits that bill. Relievers are unpredictable from year to year, so for a small price, keeping Ramirez is another way to try to steady the bullpen while they figure out who else can step up.

Looking Ahead to Spring Training

Spring training is going to be huge for both Suwinski and Ramirez. Suwinski has to find his power stroke again and actually make more contact—what made him fun to watch in 2023.

Ramirez, on the other hand, needs to throw more strikes and avoid giving up hard contact, especially late in games. The Pirates’ front office seems to be all about flexibility and opportunity right now, not big spending.

Final Thoughts

The Pirates’ offseason approach feels familiar for small-market teams. They invest in potential while keeping financial risk low.

By signing Suwinski and Ramirez, Pittsburgh gives itself flexibility for 2025. There’s no heavy long-term commitment hanging over the roster.

We’ll see how it all plays out when the players hit the field this spring. That’s when the real answers start to show up.

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