Don’t Ignore Second Base as Need for Pirates This Offseason
Much has been made about the Pittsburgh Pirates needing to improve the offense this winter and rightfully so.
The Pirates finished last in baseball in runs scored (583), home runs (117) and OPS (.655). Only one player to register at least one plate appearance was league average or better based on OPS+ (Spencer Horwitz, 116).
Most of the speculation through the first few weeks of the offseason has been the need to add a corner outfielder and a third baseman. Two of the three outfield spots will be held by Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, who played center and right respectively in 2025. The opening at third base comes after trading Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds at the deadline.
While general manager Ben Cherington should rightfully be looking to upgrade both positions, he should be casting an even wider net with such a pressing need for more offense.
In looking at other areas Pittsburgh could potentially look to upgrade, second base immediately comes to mind. The Pirates received minimal production from their second basemen in 2025. While the group finished seventh in batting average at .254, it finished 23rd with a .651 OPS, 24th with a .342 slugging percentage and 26th with eight home runs.
Former first-round pick Nick Gonzales particularly struggled. Though he hit a respectable .260, he finished with a sub-.300 on-base percentage (.299) and slugged a measly .362 with 18 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 30 RBI in 96 games after missing two months with a fractured ankle suffered on Opening Day.
Defensively, Gonzales had minus-11 defensive runs saved in 85 games at second base. He also played 11 games at shortstop.
While the Pirates shouldn’t totally write off Gonzales by any means, they also shouldn’t guarantee his spot at the starting second baseman for the start of the season. If there’s a way of upgrading at the position, Pittsburgh should explore it.
Looking at the free agent market, Jorge Polanco is someone the Pirates are keeping tabs on. The 32-year-old hit .265 with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs and 78 RBI in 138 games with the Seattle Mariners last season.
There are even more options on the trade market. The St. Louis Cardinals Brendan Donovan would be a good fit and is someone the Pirates have checked in on, as they’ve done with Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets. Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Brandon Lowe could also be of interest.
While second base might not be talked about as a need as much as adding a left fielder or third baseman, it’s still a position the Pirates can improve. And given how abysmal the offense was in 2025, everything should be on the table.
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I’d stay away from McNeil is he really that much of a upgrade .250 with a ops+ of just 101 over the last 3 seasons with a huge contract 😳
To go out and get a second baseman this offseason would be to admit you whiffed on the #7 overall pick in the 2020 draft, and the #4 overall pick in the 2022 draft. Will they do that? Not sure. They could also go get a first baseman, and bump Horwitz to 2nd, a position his bat profiles better at. I just think they need to keep the 2nd base position open for a while yet until they see how these guys shake out.
I think they need to add a couple outfielders and start to transition Reynolds to DH. Hopefully Esmerlyn Valdez will take over right field within the next year or so.
I would be disappointed this offseason if the Pirates sign or trade for aging players with little contract control in order to get bats in the lineup.
The Pirates need to be strong up the middle defensively. Even if they get a hitter or two, they’re going to rely on pitching, so they need to be sound on defense.
Triolo should be the 2nd baseman, and they should fast-track Griffin and plug him in at SS. And I still can’t believe they’re going to stick with Cruz in CF. Aside from pitching, this team is a mess