Pittsburgh has been searching for a right-handed hitter and it looks like they’ve settled on Corey Hart, signing him to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million guaranteed and $2.5 million in incentives.
Hart was one of the best right-handed power hitters in baseball for the Brewers from 2010-2012, batting .279 with an .857 OPS and 31, 26, and 30 homers. Then he missed all of 2013 with a knee injury and was a mess for the Mariners this past season, hitting .203 in 68 games.
As a cheap bounceback gamble not counted on for more than a part-time role--platoon with Pedro Alvarez at first base or with a lefty bat in the outfield--he makes sense and if healthy he should have plenty of upside at age 33.