Outfielder Jack Suwinski and right-handed reliever Yohan Ramirez were considered candidates to be non-tendered this offseason.
Instead, the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with both Thursday by signing them to contracts for the 2026 season.
Suwinski was projected to make $1.7 million by MLBTradeRumors.com after batting .147/.281/.253 with seven doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 59 games last season.
The Pirates are hoping the 27-year-old outfielder can return to the production he posted in 2023, when he led the team with 26 homers and had 73 RBIs. Suwinski is one of the team’s true power bats, with 57 homers over four seasons.
The 30-year-old Ramirez has played for eight teams in six MLB seasons and returned to the Pirates after pitching for them in 2022-23, going 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings over 24 appearances last season. He averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings and was used in a fireman role. Ramirez was projected to make $1.2 million.
Terms of the contracts were not announced.
