The Pittsburgh Pirates have been busier than usual this offseason after signaling an intention to spend more. They recently put their money where their mouth is by making a massive nine-figure offer to free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber.
According to Ken Rosenthal’s new report for The Athletic, the Pirates’ offer was for four years and “in the $120 million range, according to people briefed on the details.”
It’s a historic offer by Pittsburgh for several reasons. If accepted, it would be the largest free-agent contract in franchise history, by a lot. The club’s current record is Francisco Liriano’s three-year, $39 million deal signed after the 2014 season.
It would also be the Pirates’ first multi-year free-agent deal in nearly a decade. The team hasn’t signed one since inking Ivan Nova to a three-year, $26 million pact after the 2016 campaign.
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, its whopping offer to Schwarber may not be enough. Rosenthal reports that the Philadelphia Phillies may go up to five years to keep him, and his contract may approach $150 million.
Story continues below advertisement
After leading the National League in home runs and RBI last season, Schwarber is in high demand this winter. The 32-year-old slugger is one of the top free-agent bats on the market, drawing interest from big-market clubs like the Phillies, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
Competing with those teams isn’t easy, but at least the Pirates are trying.
Story continues below advertisement
More Pirates: Why Johan Oviedo Trade Makes Perfect Sense For Pirates
Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn