The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be quite serious about reeling in a big fish this winter.
Pittsburgh is one of several teams in pursuit of free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. The Bucs had also been chasing first baseman Josh Naylor before he re-signedwith the Seattle Mariners on Monday, Passan adds.
The Pirates, who fielded a bottom-four payroll last season, have never been big spenders in free agency. Their biggest contract ever given to a free agent was a three-year, $39-million deal with Francisco Liriano in 2015, and they haven't signed any free agent to a multi-year deal since Iván Nova in 2016. However, general manager Ben Cherington said earlier in November that the franchise has "more (payroll) flexibility" than in previous offseasons.