4 outside-the-box free agent options to creatively fix Pirates' first base hole

The Pittsburgh Pirates need a first baseman. Connor Joe is arguably their best option right now, and with how he performed after the first few months of the 2024 season, he looks more like a non-tender candidate than anything. The Pirates should have plenty of options to turn to on the trade market, but they shouldn’t rule anything out, including unconventional, outside-the-box ideas.

For what it’s worth, the Pirates seem to be open to outside-the-box ideas to fill first base. They’ve already gotten Bryan Reynolds some work in at the position during practice before the 2024 season came to a close. Reynolds has not logged an inning at first base during game action -- at least, not since high school. Still, if the Pirates are willing to explore a non-traditional option at first base by moving Reynolds there, then maybe they’d be willing to look at these free agents who don't currently occupy the position primarily as players who could move over.

4 non-traditional Pirates first base options in MLB free agency

Jurickson Profar

Jurickson Profar was the consensus No. 1 prospect in all of baseball heading into the 2013 season with the Texas Rangers. Expected to be a vital part of the Rangers' long-term plans, Profar never found his footing, bouncing around from team to team as a utility man and outfielder. But while it took just over a decade to happen, Profar had a huge 2024 season with the bat.

The switch-hitter had a .280/.380/.459 line with the San Diego Padres this past season. He hit a career-high 24 home runs while owning an above-average .179 isolated slugging percentage. Profar struck out just 15.1% of the time with a quality 11.4% walk rate. His bottom line consisted of an .839 OPS, .365 wOBA, and 139 wRC+ through 668 plate appearances. 

Profar had some very promising underlying numbers as well. He was above the 90th percentile of both xwOBA (.364) and xBA (.283), as well as in the 70th percentile of xSLG% (.448). Profar’s 91.1 MPH exit velocity trumps his previous career best by a mile, which was 87.5 MPH set in 2022. His 7.2% barrel rate is also a career-best by a fair margin, with his previous high being 6.2% in 2019.

So, how would Profar be an outside-the-box idea? Profar came up through the minor leagues as a middle infielder, but is primarily an outfielder nowadays. He has just 50 innings in the infield over the last three seasons. But while Profar may only play the outfield at the moment, he doesn’t grade out as a particularly good defender.

Profar -16 defensive runs saved and -26 outs above average, dating back to the start of the 2022 season, have him in the game's lowest tier; only Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto have fewer OAA. Among the 105 qualified outfield defenders this season, Profar ranked 101st in average feet covered in his jump at 30.8 feet. Profar’s only redeeming quality in his outfield defense is his arm strength.

So moving Profar to first base might be a good idea. Unlike moving Reynolds to the position, Profar has experience there. He has 466 frames logged at the position throughout his major league career. His defensive numbers in that small sample size are much better than his work in the outfield; Profar has +1 DRS and +2 OAA at first base.

Given how poor Profar’s defense in the outfield is, moving to first base may be inevitable for the former No. 1 prospect. Profar isn’t getting any younger and hasn’t provided much value with his glove in the grass over the last few seasons. He’d provide the most value by moving to first base.

Travis d’Arnaud

Travis d’Arnaud (not to be confused with his brother and former Pirates utility man Chase d’Arnaud) is coming off a successful five-season stint with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves recently turned down their end of an $8 million team option, letting the catcher walk into free agency. But d’Arnaud might be able to find regular work if he was willing to play some first base for the Pirates.

The under-appreciated d’Arnaud batted .238/.302/.436 this season with a .319 wOBA, and 105 wRC+. His 26.1% K% was the worst he’s put up in a full season, and his 7% walk rate was not out of the ordinary, given his career average BB% of 7.2%. d’Arnaud has always shown off some pop and blasted 15 home runs in 341 plate appearances while owning a .199 isolated slugging percentage.

d’Arnaud’s numbers under the hood are also solid. He has an above-average .323 xwOBA (55th percentile), as well as a .438 xSLG% (67th percentile). d’Arnaud has no problems making solid contact. His 89.9 MPH exit velo ranked in the 64th percentile, while his 10.4% barrel rate was among the 71st percentile of batters in 2024.

d’Arnaud has consistently graded out as a solid framer behind the dish, with +62.3 framing runs dating back to his debut in 2013. He typically hasn't had too much trouble with blocking. Defensive runs saved, however, do not paint him in a positive light at -21. This year, he had -6 DRS, but it represented by far his worst season when it came to framing. At -0.8 framing runs, it was the first time in any season he graded out as a below-average pitch framer.

The Pirates don’t need a catcher, with some even suggesting they should consider moving one of their young backstops this offseason. Luckily, d’Arnaud has some experience at first base. He logged 147 innings at the corner infield position in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays. His defense was playable, albeit unspectacular in the small sample size.

d’Arnaud might not find an easy path to playing time behind the dish by returning to the Atlanta Braves, given they have Sean Murphy. He also turns 36 in February and is coming off one of, if not his worst season with the glove yet. He’d definitely find regular playing time if he were willing to spend more time at first base. 

Joc Pederson

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed veteran designated hitter/outfielder Joc Pederson after a solid run with the San Francisco Giants. He only signed for $9.5 million, but he gave the Snakes a huge bargain. In 449 plate appearances, Pederson hit .275/.393/.515. Pederson went yard 23 times with a .240 isolated slugging percentage. His 12.2% walk rate is the best he’s put up since his sophomore 2016 season, while his 12.5% barrel rate is the second-best of his career. Pederson struck out at a less-than-stellar 23.4% rate, but all told, he had a .391 wOBA and 151 wRC+.

Pederson’s underlying numbers were also elite. He was in the 90th percentile or better in xwOBA (.381) and xSLG% (.491), as well as average exit velocity at 92.3 MPH. He fell just short of the 90th percentile in barrel rate, sitting in the 87th percentile. Pederson was also in the 78th percentile of xBA at .268.

Pederson’s numbers are great, but his profile comes with a caveat: almost all of his plate appearances were against right-handed pitchers. Only 42 of his 449 total trips to the dish were against opposite-handed pitching. For what it’s worth, he did draw seven walks and had two extra-base hits in the few times he was allowed to face a lefty, though that isn’t the norm for him, given his .630 OPS against lefties throughout his career.

Pederson only played designated hitter this year for the D-Backs. He hasn’t played the field since 2023 and hasn’t played it regularly since 2022. Pederson started his career out as an outfielder, but saw his defense and range quickly fall during the 2020s.

Pederson has some limited experience at first base. He has 154 innings at the position and hasn’t played the position very well when he has been given a shot, with -6 DRS in that small sample size. Nearly all of those innings originate from 2019 when the LA Dodgers tried him out at the position. He logged a single inning at 1B with the Chicago Cubs in 2021 and four more in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants.

The slugger’s limited work at first base is a bit worrying, but Pederson was not given a good shot at learning the position. The Dodgers gave him time at first base during the middle of the 2019 season. Letting him get the proper work in during spring training would give him a fair shot to learn the position, and potentially play it at a decent level.