I am now glad that I am doing the position evaluations at the end of the season. Even with only 7 days to go in the season the catching position went from 19th to 15th in the league. That didn’t change my mind on what to do with the position but the catching position is now in the top half of the league. Unfortunately you cannot say the same thing about first base. I don’t know what it is about 1st base and the Pirates. They just cannot seem to find a really good one. The Pirates first basemen this year were ranked 27th in the league.
First base was held down for most of the season by Spencer Horwitz. He had to go on the IL at the end of June, came back the beginning of August and quite frankly never seemed to be right. In those last 39 games he appeared in, he only had 2 hits in 5 games. His slash line for the period was .180/.263/.201. He did not hit a home run. It’s hard to say if the injury was still bugging him or what. The bottom line is the Pirates were getting zero production from one of the offensive positions. Horwitz wound up the season with a minus 2 defensive runs saved. In other words this is not what you want at first base a way below average hitter (94 OPS+) and a below average fielder.
The Pirates need to find a new home for Horwitz even if it was a nagging injury that contributed to his bad 2nd half. Ryan O Hearn should be the main first basemen in 2027. Horwitz won’t bring much on the trade market but maybe the Pirates will luck out and a get a bullpen piece for him. If he is on the team next year this is not a good sign.
