With the offseason in full swing and the hot stove heating up, the Pittsburgh Pirates have gone out and made a move.
The Pirates announced on Tuesday night that they acquired first baseman Spencer Horwitz from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz and left-handed pitchers Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle.
Horwitz played in 97 games for the Blue Jays in 2024, hitting .265 with 12 home runs, 19 doubles, 40 RBIs, 42 walks, and a .790 OPS. The first baseman fills a need for the Pirates after watching Rowdy Tellez head to free agency — but Horwitz also offers the chance to play second base, which he did last season.
Ortiz was a quality arm for Pittsburgh throughout the season, going 7-6 in 37 games with a 3.32 ERA. He made 15 starts during the season. Kennedy and Hartle were the Pirates’ No. 15 and No. 17 ranked prospects via MLB.com.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington commented on the acquisition, saying that Horwitz was a good addition to the team and lineup.
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“Spencer has been a consistently strong offensive performer throughout his pro career, including his first extended Major League experience this season,” Cherington said, per the Pirates. “As a left-handed hitting first baseman with on-base skill, we believe he’s a strong fit for our lineup and team.”
Horwitz is a much-needed addition to the offense while taking on plenty of the first base reps throughout the new campaign.
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