The Pirates’ roster picture for 2027 could leave Spencer Horwitz on the outside looking in.
Pittsburgh acquired Horwitz two years ago, but the club still hasn’t really gotten a full answer on what he is as a player. He never got the chance to settle in before injuries kept getting in the way.
Before he could play a regular-season game for the Pirates, Horwitz went on the IL and had wrist surgery. In 2026, a hamstring strain and a concussion cost him even more time.
By the time he made it back, the production had fallen off hard. Horwitz finished with a .464 OPS, and that kind of output makes the first-base conversation pretty straightforward: the Pirates need more there.
That’s where Ryan O’Hearn comes in.
O’Hearn brings a stronger glove at first base, steadier offense, and a clubhouse presence the Pirates value. He’s a clear upgrade over Horwitz.
The catch is that O’Hearn is a poor outfielder, so the best way to maximize him is to keep him at first base or at DH. That leaves Horwitz vulnerable.
The fit gets even trickier because the two players bring a lot of the same offensive profile. Both hit left-handed and both want to pull the ball in the air, which is not the easiest recipe for success at PNC Park with the Clemente Wall in right field. Pittsburgh already leans lefty-heavy, too, with Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe - if he returns - also batting left and Bryan Reynolds hitting from both sides.
Still, there’s a case for patience with Horwitz. He opened the 2026 season as one of the Pirates’ best bats and reached the IL with an .842 OPS. Even with the missed time, he appeared in more games in 2026 than in any other season, and his home run and RBI totals were in line with what he’s done before.
If the Pirates want to find out whether Horwitz still has a real role, second base may be the answer. Lowe is a free agent, and while bringing him back would make the club better, Ben Cherington already seems to be preparing for a lineup without him. Horwitz played second base for the Blue Jays in 2024, and even if he wasn’t great there, the position would give Pittsburgh a way to keep both him and O’Hearn in the mix without giving up O’Hearn’s bat.
In Other News...
Pirates Face A Tough Decision On A Power Bat They Need
The Pirates have spent enough time looking for right-handed thump that any bat with real power immediately draws attention, and Jo Adells recent playoff showing has only sharpened that interest. Clevelands outfielder has the kind of pop that can change a lineups shape, especially against left-handed pitching, which is exactly the area Pittsburgh needs help if it is going to balance out a roster that has too often come up short in those spots.
For the Pirates, the appeal is obvious, but so is the decision ahead of them. They need offense, they need it from the right side, and they need a player who can fit into a lineup that still has holes to fill. Adell checks enough of those boxes to make him a name worth tracking this offseason, even if nothing about his future has been settled yet. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face One Offseason Problem They Cant Keep Ignoring
Third base has moved to the front of the Pirates offseason to-do list, and it is easy to see why. After moving on from KeBryan Hayes, Pittsburgh tried to cover the spot with Nick Gonzales, who offered a better bat but did not solve the defensive side of the equation. The front office now views the position as one of the key areas that needs a real upgrade for the 2027 season, not just a temporary patch.
There are internal names in the mix, including prospects still working their way up the ladder, but the Pirates are expected to keep looking outside the organization for more power and steadier defense. They have explored both free agency and trade possibilities for a third baseman who can lengthen the lineup and handle the job cleanly, even as some of the targets they monitored have already gone elsewhere. The search is still open, and for a club trying to build around young talent, getting this one right matters. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Skenes Just Faced His First Real Pirates Test
Paul Skenes entered his first two major league seasons looking every bit like the franchise arm the Pirates had envisioned, collecting National League Rookie of the Year honors and then following it with an NL Cy Young Award. But 2026 brought a different kind of test, as his run prevention slipped and his fastball no longer carried quite the same edge, forcing him to work through a stretch that asked more of his craft than his overpowering stuff.
For a pitcher whose early success was built on dominance, the challenge was never just about surviving a down year, but about proving he could adjust when hitters and his own body gave him less margin for error. By seasons end, there were signs of progress in that effort, including a second straight 200-strikeout season, a reminder that even amid the dip, Skenes was still finding ways to miss bats while he searched for the next version of himself. [Read more 🡒]