The Pirates checked an item off their offseason to-do list when they acquired Spencer Horwitz in hopes that he can serve as a long-term option at first base. They’re still not done hunting for bats, however, as Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports within a broad-reaching piece on several Winter Meetings takeaways that the team is looking for a corner outfielder, with a likely preference to operate on the trade market. The Bucs will also likely be in the market for a low-cost reliever or two, Hiles adds.
Corner outfield help isn’t a new need for the Pirates. They sought to address the issue with their deadline acquisition of Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins, but he turned in a disastrous .200/.220/.294 slash in 44 games with Pittsburgh following the trade. The Pirates chose not to double down on an acquisition they’d come to regret, non-tendering De La Cruz rather than paying him a projected $4MM salary in arbitration (courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz).
With De La Cruz now on the open market, the Pirates’ outfield alignment includes Bryan Reynolds in left and converted shortstop Oneil Cruz in center field. Right field options include Joshua Palacios, Billy Cook and Jack Suwinski, the latter of whom looked to have broken out as a key bat for the Pirates in 2023 before struggling through a disastrous 2024 season (.182/.264/.324 in 277 plate appearances). There’s been some talk of Reynolds logging some reps at first base (link via Alex Stumpf of MLB.com), but the Horwitz trade pretty clearly indicates that’s at best a backup plan for the time being.
Cruz will be getting the lion’s share of reps in center field. Reynolds can technically play either corner, though his once-premium range has eroded substantially. Reynolds still posted better-than-average sprint speed in 2024, per Statcast, but his reaction times and jumps in the outfield graded quite poorly. As recently as 2021, Statcast credited Reynolds with 98th-percentile range in the outfield; in 2024, he was at the very bottom of the league, in the first percentile. His arm strength on his outfield throws actually ticked back up after a down year in 2023, but he’ll need to make some adjustments regardless of which corner he roams (though it’ll presumably be left, based on recent usage).
There are a handful of known and obvious corner outfield trade candidates on the market. Pittsburgh was never going to pony up for Kyle Tucker, who just went to the Cubs, as ownership wouldn’t be willing to spend the necessary money to keep him long term. But names like Taylor Ward (a deadline target for the Bucs), Wilyer Abreu, Jake McCarthy, Alek Thomas and Mike Yastrzemski have all been bandied about the rumor mill this offseason. The Pirates will surely look into some potential under-the-radar options as well. Budget-strapped teams with some outfield depth (e.g. Twins or, if they’re comfortable dealing within the division, Brewers) could make intriguing partners, as could a team like the Orioles, with plenty of interesting young hitters but less supply in terms of quality young starting pitching.
Of course, if trade efforts fall flat, the free agent market does have some affordable names. Max Kepler, Alex Verdugo, Jesse Winker and Austin Hays are among the interesting and affordable free agents who could fit even a small-payroll club like Pittsburgh.
On the bullpen front, there’s little use speculating on specific targets, given the sheer volume of possibilities. Hiles cautions against the chances of another relatively significant splash like the one the Bucs made when signing Aroldis Chapman last year, instead positing that the Pirates will be shopping at far lower rates. Typically, the best way to find bargain options is to wait out the market and see who’s left without a seat when the musical chairs stop in February. The Pirates could also try to convince a potential trade partner to include some pre-arbitration bullpen help in any deal netting them an outfielder.
The Pirates currently project for a payroll of about $74.5MM, per RosterResource. That does not include an expected reunion with designated hitter Andrew McCutchen. Pittsburgh finished the 2024 season with a roughly $87MM payroll and peaked with a franchise-record $100MM outlay back in 2016.
What a pathetic franchise this is, run by a profit-obsessed carpetbagger
Have to give MLBTR credit. Early on, they listed names like O’Neill and Conforto as potential FA targets. Now they’re gone. After this current list goes by, we can focus on guys you’ve never heard of, which is more in keeping with Nutting is looking for
Yep, their window is now open and aren’t pressing for a key free agent bat. If not now, when? They can’t compete for a championship like that.
in reality they will never compete for a championship; though management says as much to the gullible rubes to attract them to spend their hard earned money and attend games
Name a business owner that isn’t profit obsessed.
I hate Nutting as much as anyone but the complaints about being profit driven is pointless.
TJ, I get that. You’re on target
Profit obsessed is a bit different
In sports you simply have to spend the money
Come on, now. We both know this guy simply won’t. And he’ll continually hide behind the small market/low financial ability myth that’s been blown to bits in places like Milwaukee, KC, Baltimore etc
Profit driven, sure, that’s business
This is an obsession that dictates high income and low expenses at all costs. That’s the problem
Won’t argue. He’s the worse of the worse.
Really wish you were forced into using revenue sharing on your ML roster and not just say it’s being spent on development or scouting or analytics
“Name a business owner that isn’t profit obsessed.”
TJECK109;
LOL
So the way it works is that a person lays out money to buy a business, assumes legal liabilities, spends time working at it. and isn’t supposed to be concerned if he/she doesn’t make a profit. ?
Any owner can put the down payment into a tax-free issued bond and get guaranteed interest…e.g. a profit.
Do you support yourself?
Samuel you need to learn to comprehend comments before replying.
Your senseless rambling is exactly what I already pointed out. But thanks for wasting your time
Had you “never heard of” Aroldis Chapman before the Pirates signed him? Andrew McCutchen?
Had you “never heard of” Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, or Ke’Bryan Hayes before the Pirates gave them long-term contract extensions?
The Pirates have a low payroll because Pittsburgh is now, and always has been, a bad market for baseball – even when the team was one of the best in MLB.
In 2015, the Pirates went to the postseason for the third straight year and had the second most wins in the major leagues. Their attendance ranked 10th in the 15 team National League.
Absolute apologetic baloney
I’ll go back to the 60’s to discuss stars and contracts if you wish
We can discuss owners along the way, too
This is the absolute worst in MLB. And it’s not even close
Your attendance number is somewhat funny in that while the Pirates play in the nicest ballpark in baseball—a taxpayer funded ballpark—the capacity is 39K
Give it a rest, Rich. We’ve heard it all before
The city will support a team that tries to win with an owner that goes for it each year. We even support the Riverhounds. But this type of apologetic baloney just isn’t flying anymore
MrMainStreet;
I moved a couple of hundred miles from Pittsburgh years ago. Don’t know the issue with the baseball team, but local fans seem to support the Steelers and Penguins well.
As for the Pirates, every year for the last 3-4 when the baseball season is on, Pittsburgh baseball fans post their frustration on here complaining about the way the Pirates are playing via their watching game on TV. I read things that pretty much say: “The players are screwing up constantly, and it appears that they don’t care….they’re pretty much playing for their stats and no one is doing anything about it.” Then they disappear as apparently they stop watching the games….on TV. No way would they go down to the park to see it live.
–
Small market MLB teams in Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tampa Bay are in contention 3 out of every 5 years with payrolls similar to the level of the Pirates (even Baltimore recently),
To me the problem with the owner is not the budget; it’s the people he brings in to run his baseball ops area, and subsequently the people they bring in to run the franchise. He should have cut bait on Huntington years before he did, and Cherington is similar – the team looks good on paper and has the dreaded “potential / if only” that all losing pro sports losing franchises have: But the rub regarding the Pirates is that baseball is played on grass and dirt…not on paper and not on computer spreadsheets.
I can agree in principal, Samuel
But here’s my problem with your logic and it goes back to something Dream said last year. Yes, you have to put out money to win. Most people associate that with players but here in Pittsburgh, we’ve come to understand it means coaches, scouts, player development personnel and of course, front office
There’s a reason a hockey guy is the team president and there’s a reason things under him then go as they do
There’s a reason Cherington is GM but a lot of people likely forget that he has constraints placed on him. I’m not exempting him from critique—his player development program has been a train wreck—but it’s hard to target him when it’s clear he has marching orders
Again, I enjoy MLBTR throwing names out about potential targets for the Pirates. Most are mid-level, at best. And yet, even they are too high priced.
Bob Nutting may be a wonderful man. It’s not personal. But as an owner, he has done his best to kill baseball in this town
Your small park argument would matter if the Pirates were selling out every game in 20, but they were from that.. They averaged only 28,000 per game, 11,000 short of your 3b9,000 capacity figure.
Pittsburgh has always been a bad market for baseball.
In 1992, the Pirates won their division for the third straight season and the city couldn’t sellout Three Rivers Stadium for playoff games.
Throughout the 1970s, the Pirates were consistently one of the best teams in Major League Baseball – and attendance was consistently abysmal.
When the Pirates’ lease on PNC Park expires after the 2030 season, Pittsburghers should not be at all surprised that their lack of support has left them without a team.
You got to be kidding me here Richard
The Steelers ranked 19 in attendance last year. Guess it’s not a football town either
Maybe park size matters. As of now the Pirates have the 24th biggest park
RichardJarzynka – Even though I rarely agree with you and think you are a ridicules Pirate/Nutting apologist, I am here to relay the massage that FOB&D wants you back.
Would you prefer the Pirates spend double what did last year, and lose 13 more games?
LA Angels spent 172M, and were 63-99.
Pirates spent 84M, and were 76-86.
the die hard fans who go back to the prominent days of Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Dave Parker have been waiting 45 years for another championship while listening to how poor Nutting would be if he actually cared enough about winning to spend some money
Fact is, his share of the luxury tax combined with the ESPN television contract that all teams share annually, Nutting doesn’t have a spend a shiny penny for payroll
Forbes projects that his profits hover around $35-50 million a year
He’s a businessman first and foremost and doesn’t care if the fans crave for a winner, as long as he makes a profit
You’re missing the point here
If your view is Pirates fans want Nutting to shell out Soto money for players or as you say, simply double the payroll from last year, you’re thinking fans here are knee jerk idiots
Look, they have the pieces here to at least compete. Whether it’s for the NL Central or a wild card berth, they have starting pitching (even after the ridiculous Ortiz trade)
My thinking is Bednar will be ok
They have Reynolds. And Cruz, who will only get better.
Bart and Gonzales had nice seasons
They have IKF, who’s a good utility player
They have Endy coming back
They may even get 20 more homers from Cutch for another year
All they needed was a corner outfielder and 1st baseman. They didn’t need to break the bank—-but guys who could drive in runs and hit some homers
Yeah, Alonso or Walker would’ve been nice but they were pipe dreams
But they got Horwitz as one of the pieces instead? Seriously?
Again, wouldn’t take much here. They just refuse to do it
I respectfully disagree with your optimism on some of the players.
I liked Ortiz last year, but you gotta give to get. Hopefully Horowitz will be able to be a good 1B, but I still think he might be on the smaller size for the position.
I’ve lost all faith in Bednar. Too many 4 seamers down the middle got put into the stands to blow leads.
Reynolds is consistently good, not great like they were trying to project.
Cruz is his own worst enemy at bat. Hopefully the new hitting coach can train him to not even swing at sliders from lefties. He reminds me of Gregory Polanco a lot, and we know how that ended.
Bart was a bright spot for the team last year.
Other than that, they have too many utility men that are very lousy hitters.
I think they now have too many prospects with roughly the same amount of skills, and don’t know what to do with them, and are too afraid to trade them for a proven player.
Oh I agree 100% with all of this
Reynolds is no superstar in MLB but he’s the closest thing they have to a consistent hitter
Cruz is their HR guy but his plate discipline is horrible. His approach is devoid of any knowledge of what a pitcher is throwing or where the strike zone is. He can only get better. And yes, your analogy of Polanco is dead on. Only difference is, Polanco put in a helluva lot of work and couldn’t succeed. I don’t get the idea that Cruz does the same
And you’re right about Bednar but your reasons are why I think he’ll be ok. He hasn’t lost velocity but needs to regain his control of spin and off speed.
I could go on
I generally agree with all of this
But to me, other than LA, SD and Philly, the NL is generally a watered down league.
They just won in 1979. You can’t expect them to replicate that every year.
Taylor Ward for Braxton Ashcraft or Thomas Harrington.
Let’s go.
That sounds fair for both sides
Taylor Ward’s 2025 salary is over 9 million and he’s 30?
Cherington wants an outfielder with a few years of control before free agency
He probably won’t trade one of our prized pitchers in the minors for Ward
I think Ashcraft is out the door this off-season. Surprised he wasn’t in the Horwitz trade. Another trade I wouldn’t mind is Ashcraft and maybe another prospect for Heston Kjerstad. The O’s have a ton of young outfielders and just added Tyler O’Neill. Kjerstad could definitley be a name on the move for the right price.
Pirates will sign whomever is left in the outfield market around the first week of March, about the same time last year they signed Michael A Taylor and touted him as an everyday player.
But i really hope they get in on some of these relievers now. Last year’s bullpen was a disaster and they need at least a couple more arms in there
Cherington has perfected the art of dumpster diving
Michael A Taylor and Rowdy Tellez both come to mind
If the Pirates wait too long, Bryan De La Cruz will be the only corner outfielder left.
They’ll bring Connor Joe back before De La Cruz.
Not sure why I’m surprised any more but I had a glimmer of hope that having the best pitcher in the world might make them wake up and try and bring in some real talent. I guess we’ll see but not holding my breath.
Ben …” we are looking at 4-5 big name corners who happen to be in Korea, and should fit right in “
Jared Jones for Wilyer Abreu. Win win for both teams
I’d be down for that but Wilyer isn’t that great.
Wilyer would excel in Pittsburgh because he wouldn’t face the same pressure or criticism from the Pittsburgh fans and media like in Boston. He’s a potential 5 tool player imo.
Jared Jones is solid. I’d do that in a heartbeat
First thought heck no, second thought no way would I trade Jones for that, third thought, long term control and I have lots of quality pitching prospects…
Okay let’s talk.
After overpaying with Ortiz, etc. on the last deal, they should stick with what they have. They have Cabbage, Cook, Gorski and Suwinski for Spring Training. Let them compete for a spot.
It will probably be Austin Hays.
Hays has a career .277/.331/.469 line against lefties. I would totally be fine bringing him and Max Kepler in as a platoon. I also think Randal Grichuk would be a realistic platoon option.
They paid 10 mil for Chapman so why not 9 mil for someone who plays every day & is under control. Ward hit 25 hr & 75 rbi
Why don’t the Pirates move Cruz to RF and get a defense first CF?
The Pirates will never win as long as Nutting owns the team. Ben Cherington is terrible at making trades, but Theo Epstein Hisownself couldn’t succeed with Nutting as an owner.