Checking in on Ryan O’Hearn and other former Orioles in free agency

As the holidays near and baseball news slows down, there was a report that will be of interest to Orioles fans.

Ryan O’Hearn, whose career got a huge boost in Baltimore and was the American League’s starting designated hitter in July’s All-Star Game before the Orioles traded him and outfielder Ramón Laureano to San Diego, will next play for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates, who aren’t known as huge spenders in the free-agent market, came to an agreement with O’Hearn on a two-year contract worth $29 million. O’Hearn can also earn an additional $500,000 in incentives.

O’Hearn’s deal, which was first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray and confirmed by an industry source, is the first multi-year contract handed out by Pittsburgh since a three-year deal to pitcher Ivan Nova in 2016.

O’Hearn’s story is a great one. He was traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Orioles in January 2023 for cash considerations and quickly removed from the roster. After no team claimed him off waivers, O’Hearn had a good spring training but began the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

He had an excellent season for the Orioles in 2023 (.289, .801 OPS, 14 home runs, 60 RBIs), and had another strong one in 2024 (.264, .761 OPS, 15 homers, 59 RBIs).

O’Hearn established himself not only as a productive hitter but as a positive veteran force in the clubhouse and an engaging interview.

In 2025, he was hitting .283 with an .837 OPS, 13 home runs and 43 RBIs before he and Laureano, who was also hitting well, were traded to the Padres for six prospects on July 31^st.

O’Hearn got to play in the postseason for the third straight year with San Diego. He hit .276 with a .736 OPS, four home runs and 20 RBIs in 50 games.

The Pirates train in Bradenton, Florida, about 20 minutes from the Orioles’ facility in Sarasota. The two teams play each other five times during the Grapefruit League season.

The Orioles play at Pittsburgh in early April. Last season, the Orioles played in San Diego after O’Hearn was traded to the Padres.

Of the Orioles who were traded last July, only Laureano and Bryan Baker, who was dealt to Tampa Bay, remain with the teams that acquired them.

Andrew Kittredge, sent to the Chicago Cubs, was reacquired by the Orioles in November. The Orioles picked up his $9 million option for 2026.

Cedric Mullins, who had an awful two months with the New York Mets (two homers, 10 RBIs and a .182 average), signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Rays.

Left-hander Gregory Soto, who was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 25 games, also signed with the Pirates for $7.75 million in 2026.

Right-hander Seranthony Dominguez and infielder Ramón Urias remain free agents. Urías wasn’t offered a 2026 contract by Houston.

Charlie Morton, who was traded to Detroit, was released by the Tigers and picked up by Atlanta, who allowed him to pitch game 162, presumably the final appearance of a laudable 18-year career.

None of the free agents who were still on the Orioles’ roster at the end of the season — starters Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano, catcher Gary Sánchez, infielder Jorge Mateo and outfielder Dylan Carlson — have yet to sign a contract for 2026.

Cionel Pérez, who was granted minor league free agency on September 29^th, also has not signed with a team for next season.

In news involving other former Orioles, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the New York Mets are interested in longtime Orioles outfielder Austin Hays, who was traded to Philadelphia in July 2024. Hays played for Cincinnati in 2025.

Right-handed reliever Jacob Webb, who was with the Orioles in 2023 and 2024 and pitched for Texas in 2025, has agreed to a one-year contract with a 2026 option with the Chicago Cubs, according to The Athletic.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.