The Pirates have enough talent to believe in the lineup, but last season also showed how quickly things can unravel when the depth chart gets tested. Injuries hit Pittsburgh hard, and that’s why the idea of adding another middle-infield layer this offseason makes so much sense.
One possible path leads straight to Miami. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins could move shortstop Otto Lopez and second baseman Xavier Edwards this offseason, even if they are not actively shopping either player. As Jackson wrote, “Though the Marlins aren’t believed to be shopping Lopez or Edwards, neither player is considered untouchable,” and “If a team is willing to offer a lot in return, Miami would listen.”
For Pittsburgh, the fit is obvious. Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is locked in as the future at the position after signing a nine-year, $140 million extension just five days after his MLB debut, but he spent almost three months on two injured list stints. He missed three weeks in June with a right forearm flexor strain, then sat out from early July until early September after injuring the sagittal band in his left ring finger.
That kind of absence exposed the lack of a ready-made replacement. Jacob Gonzalez, acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, struggled in the role, hitting .203/.238/.366 for a .604 OPS in 51 games.
Lopez would give the Pirates a much steadier option. He hit .305/.349/.437 with a .786 OPS in 157 games this season, led all of baseball with 191 hits, and finished with the fifth-highest batting average.
He also swiped 34 bases, tied for eighth-most in MLB, and brings value with the glove at both shortstop and second base. That kind of versatility would give Pittsburgh insurance behind Griffin and a possible answer if Brandon Lowe doesn’t return in 2027.
Lowe is a free agent, and while the Pirates want him back, there’s no guarantee that happens. Lopez would also be a cleaner defensive fit than Nick Gonzales, who hit well in 2026 with the sixth-highest batting average in MLB at .303 but has had issues in the field.
Edwards wouldn’t bring the same impact as Lopez, but he still offers real value. He batted .280/.360/.371 with a .730 OPS in 142 games in 2026, collected 145 hits and 17 doubles, and showed excellent strike-zone control with 68 walks against 83 strikeouts.
His chase rate was 24.4%, his whiff rate 17.6%, his strikeout rate 13.9%, and his walk rate 11.4%. He also added 21 stolen bases.
Defensively, Edwards isn’t as strong as Lopez, posting -2 DRS, -2 OAA and -1 FRV at second base this year, but he can handle both middle-infield spots and give the Pirates another dependable option. Gonzales may have produced better offensively than Edwards last season, but his defense remains a concern, especially after his -11 DRS at second base in 2025.
The financial side is manageable, too. Both Lopez and Edwards are in their first year of arbitration, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting salaries of $5.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, for a combined $9.9 million.
For a small-market club like Pittsburgh, that matters. The Pirates aren’t going to win bidding wars for the top free agents, so controllable talent at a reasonable price carries real weight.
The hurdle, of course, is what Miami would ask for in return. If the price is reasonable, Pittsburgh should be in the conversation.
Lopez and Edwards aren’t stars, but either one would strengthen the infield. Together, they could make the Pirates a lot harder to wear down over a full season.
In Other News...
Pirates Trade Fit Could Fix One Lineup Problem And Create Another
The Pirates have spent enough time looking for ways to balance their lineup that a player like Jo Adell is easy to picture on the radar. Hes already being mentioned among the top trade candidates for the 2026-27 offseason, and the appeal is obvious from Pittsburghs side: the club has struggled to do damage against left-handed starters, and a right-handed power bat with Adells profile would fit a clear need.
The catch is that the fit is not clean. Adells overall offensive limitations make him a more complicated bet than the handedness split alone suggests, and the price tag through arbitration only adds to the front offices calculus. For a Pirates team trying to patch one lineup hole without creating another roster headache, this is the kind of decision that can shape the next offseason before it really begins. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have A Tough Call On Spencer Horwitz Soon
Spencer Horwitz arrived as a useful piece for the Pirates, but his first season in Pittsburgh did not unfold the way the club hoped. Injuries slowed him down in 2026, and the dip showed up on both sides of the ball, leaving the Pirates to sort through what he still is for them and where he fits in a roster that already has some overlap at first base.
The front office now has a decision to make with Horwitz and Ryan O'Hearn in the mix, and that could push the Pirates toward a move that creates more flexibility elsewhere. Horwitz still has multiple seasons of team control, which makes the choice more complicated than a simple short-term reset, but the organization may soon have to decide whether the long view or the cleaner roster fit matters more. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have Found An Offseason Fix For Their Lefty Problem
The Pirates spent much of the 2026 season looking for answers against left-handed pitching, and that weakness is likely to shape how they approach the offseason. One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Baltimore third baseman Coby Mayo, a bat-first option who could give Pittsburgh a different kind of look from the right side and help balance a lineup that needs more production in those matchups.
Baltimore is willing to listen on trades, which gives the Pirates a possible path if they decide Mayo is worth the gamble. The appeal is obvious on offense, but Pittsburgh would still have to weigh how steady he can be and whether his glove at third base is good enough to justify the move before anything gets serious. [Read more 🡒]