ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Pirates need bats, and it looks like they are taking a big swing to get one.

According to a report by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Sunday, the Pirates have offered Kyle Schwarber a four-year contract that "almost certainly is for more than $100 million." Such a deal, if accepted, would obliterate the franchise’s record for the largest free-agent deal , which is the three-year, $39 million contract Francisco Liriano signed in December 2014.

The appeal of Schwarber is obvious. The Pirates need to upgrade their offense, and Schwarber is the best hitter on the market. The runner-up for the National League MVP Award in 2025 had an NL-leading 56 home runs and an MLB-best 132 RBIs with a .240/.365/.563 slash line, good for a career-best 150 OPS+ .

The Pirate

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