Pirates evidently missed opportunity to get creative after latest Rangers news

Offense. The recurring team need that the Pirates have not addressed very well is their offense. While they did go out and acquire a controllable option at first base in Spencer Horwitz, he is - of course - unlikely to be healthy by Opening Day. Even the best-laid lineup plans go awry these days.

As it turns out, a different player that would have strongly boosted the Pirates' offense was labeled as a designated hitter in free agency, but has now become a first base option for the Rangers. That slugger is Joc Pederson, a left-handed masher who generated an fWAR of 3.0 in 2024, even without any impact from his fielding. His bat is truly a game changer, and would have done just that in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates typically have to get creative when constructing the roster while allowing for their budget constraints. Pederson came in a bit higher than their usual free agent additions, signing a two-year deal worth $37 million (with options).

Yeah, pricey, especially since the Pirates' most expensive free agent addition during the Ben Cherington era remains a $10.5 million contract to Aroldis Chapman. Nonetheless, this addition easily would have turned this lineup around, especially at a position that the Pirates have missed on for a long time. If only they'd known he could cover first.

Pirates missed creative option at first base with Joc Pederson

Pederson taking reps at first base was a really smart move for Texas, especially after selling their former first baseman in Nate Lowe for reliever help. After adding Andrew Heaney, the Pirates should sell from a similar surplus for outfield help, but that's something else to discuss.

Last season, Pederson posted a wRC+ of 151 with 23 home runs and an OPS of .908. The Pirates in 2024 did not have a single player with an OPS over .800, so adding a guy like Pederson would have completely shifted this team's trajectory for the 2025 season.

It is not uncharacteristic for the Pirates to shift positions, either. Right now, they have tried out Adam Frazier and Nick Yorke at first base, which does not make a whole lot of sense, yet here we are.

Adding Pederson's bat alone easily would have been great. Trading controllable pitching for Horwitz wasn't a bad idea, either. Still, we will now have to wait and see if Horwitz can maintain the success he showed in 2024 moving forward. He definitely is a solid choice to look forward to, but Pederson would have been season-changing, and could've manned first while Luis Ortiz and Co. were dangled for an outfielder better than Tommy Pham.