DK's Daily Shot of Pirates: The big first base trade?

[@ronkozar5300]

The Pittsburgh Pirates perpetual pursuit of pleasantly priced part-time players.

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

wow.....😅

[@tigerwarsawband]

Pirates could have gotten Jake Burger. .260 and 30 HR every season. Nope we wanted a guy who only hits 12 HRs and bats .100 vs lefties. Oh, and we gave more for him than the Burger trade too. This org is a TOTAL joke.

[@erad67]

He's older and spent much more time in the majors. Gotta have those extra years of rights control! LOL

[@thedark1owns]

WTF are you on? Burger sucks. He doesn't walk, his defense is bad, and he has less control.

[@BJBiringer]

Hope Ortiz has a breakout season in Cleveland with a much BETTER team.

[@john670]

Horwitz was 38th in the MLB last season in wRC+ among those with 350+ ABs, and they have him for 6 years. Also, by every era estimator (fip, xfip, xera, siera, etc) Luis Ortiz was just average to a lil below last season.

[@steelydon3928]

woah, thanks for pulling that info together for us. Good stuff.

[@garybuckii8406]

Idk. A 3.32 era and .218 OBA wasn’t too bad. I would say that’s above average not below. I’m not saying he’s great but I thought he was good. He can’t help that pirates couldn’t hit or score

[@timwest78]

Not sure what stats your looking at for Ortiz.

[@thedark1owns]

​@@garybuckii8406good thing we traded a pitcher, which we have a lot of, for a hitter.

[@robertlong7033]

Gave up quite a bit for a no power 1B who will never be more than an average player.

[@jgreasy1213]

A small nice part of this is that he costs no money, so you can start to squint and see RF and bullpen able to be addressed

[@BJBiringer]

Cleveland and Toronto are our personal supermarkets for trades. How many has the genius GM made with those two?? Way too many.

[@Adam_Mitch]

I don't love giving up Ortiz and a couple top 30 prospects for a 27-year-old rookie, but I've read and seen some encouraging things about Horwitz. I'd like to think this move frees up some money for the pirates to spend on a quality corner outfielder.

[@DavidYosten]

Well DK, he's hit more in his limited time in the majors than anyone the Pirates have called up in the last decade, so what say we give him a shot before we crap all over the trade? Can't trade young pitching? What other options do we have? You sound like you just want to pack it in for another season just so you can be right about firing Cherrington. I have no love for the guy, but I'd actually like to see the Pirates get better next year.

[@johngunning3371]

He looks intriguing as a hitter. Luv the on base percentage. But I think they gave up more than they should have. I like Kennedy a lot. Wish it was just Ortiz and Hartle. Agree DK about The Hague connection with him in Toronto.

[@jgreasy1213]

In a vacuum, there's nothing wrong with getting a guy at 1b who is more of a leadoff type (and he seems like he will be really nice in that kind of role). In a non-vacuum, maaaan whoever they get for RF really needs to smash the baseball over the fence now.

[@peterlivingston3906]

There is no greater precursor of the future than the past. The history of rookie, 27 year old, 5'10" firstbaseman, is not good. A guy who has never hit more than 12 home runs at any level in return for the one thing EVERY team is dying for, a 25 year old starting pitcher. In five years, when I am right, buy me lunch.

[@billzitsch6995]

Could be a lot sooner than five years.

[@cylynnpa0192]

I know you can't have too many power hitters, but you have Reynolds, Cruz, Bart. Fill the rest of the lineup with contact hitters and people who can just get on base, and that sounds good to me right now

[@russsnyder2026]

Solid on base numbers throughout his career

[@jeffreyrusnak5197]

Question, Who was in front of him in Toronto. This could stop him from coming up early.

[@williamjpellas0314]

Vlad Guerrero Jr was in front of him. That's the only reason it took him so long to get established in the big leagues. Look at Horwitz's minor league numbers. The dude can absolutely rake.

[@melmann357]

Cleveland gave up quite a package to get him. He could be a 20 home run bat.

[@thatsright4194]

He's definitely not a power hitter. More of a contact guy and very similar to Connor Joe who just left.

[@smokey_gator_239]

Cleveland had a salary dump to get him.

[@moon2019-z7p]

They give up a proven MLB starter, who's only 25 with loads of potential and get back a 27-year-old rookie who can't hit lefties.

[@kenbourekas420]

That’s exactly what the Pirates need. Don’t need a superstar just a guy that can hold his own when it’s his turn up at bat

[@samuelkeister2646]

This could be cheringtons bad “archer like” trade. If Horowitz doesn’t pan out.

[@meddyven]

@@samuelkeister2646 oh wait...that was already Bryan De La Cruz!

[@TheCkittle2518]

Think it is a great trade. Part of the reason he is an older rookie is he has been blocked by Guerrero. Think he would be great for the Pirates. And something this team needs. A dude that doesn't strike out 25% of the time.

[@billd8324]

@@TheCkittle2518 That whole approach has to change. Taking called 3rd strikes over and over because you want to wear out the starting pitchers is beyond lunacy. Hopefully that changes.

[@TheCkittle2518]

@billd8324 totally agree. You have to let a ball player be who he is. And if he strikes out swinging 25% or 30% of the time like Cruz does, you have to let them be who he is. Would much rather see him swinging at a strike 3 than watching it. Like this dude they got because he seems to be just a pure hitter. Doesn't strikeout much, but still managed to be a consistent .300 or better hitter throughout the minors. Guy is a solid player. Ortiz is great, but never going to be better than a 5th starter for us. The 2 prospects are 3 years away at minimum. Even when they are ready they are still 9th or 10th on the depth chart.

[@garymeyer4243]

I really like this move from the standpoint of dealing strength for a weakness, sad to see Ortiz go I really like him and his potential but where would he have fit in the rotation w Skenes Jones Keller Falter and maybe Chandler, he would have been relegated to long relief. To get a solid hitting firstbaseman under team control for many years for pennies is a win for the Pirates. Too bad he doesnt have a ton of power but they still have money for the bullpen and OF going forward.

[@bobross1550]

He looks like Mitch Trubisky. Great.

[@sfjsb6334]

ALWAYS take the under with Cherington. I just can't with this nickel & dime BS

[@ao513]

Nickel and dime with a guy who ranked 38th in wRC+ of guys with 350+ PA’s

[@sfjsb6334]

@ao513 YES, shipping out a starter with potential for a typical Cherington dart board lottery ticket. He's 27. Get back to me in September. The odds are in my favor...

[@davidjones5547]

A better option than this scrub would have been to trade for Tristen Casas on the RedSox. The Sox needs pitching and the Pirates need a first baseman.

[@forgottenpath5919]

Not crazy about short 1B, but beggars can't be choosers. Horwitz is a competent hitter entering his prime, and the Pirates desperately need competent hitters. With Yorke, Nick G, Cruz, Bart, Reynolds, Horwitz, Endy, Pirates are piecing together an offense that should be able to jump to middle of the pack.

[@douglascritchlow2207]

Bad trade

[@larryconnors9327]

Are the Buffalo Bisons still the Pirates AAA team

[@meddyven]

Cherington clearly has an affinity with bringing in players, staff from the Blue Jays. He must think that time there, he knows all these players, and te unfiscoveted gold. Lol. Lived the J1Q. Those guys Kemp, Lexcano were as bad as Amos Otis, Derek Bell, etc. In the beginning of his tenure, Harding Peyerson made some realky signficant trades. Getting Johnny Ray from Houston and ofcourse the Madlock and Foli swaps. Later in his tenure, he flopped.

[@billd8324]

@@meddyven I think Amos Otis was in a Gerry Reed song from years back.

[@jgreasy1213]

DK didn't you say the other day they plan on getting to 100 mil? Now you think they may use this as an excuse to not? Which is more likely?

[@Michael-hq1iq]

maybe now they will stop with the gargonzola of taking their best outfielder and putting him (reynolds) at first base . I disagree with D.K. s assesment of reynolds he is an allstar in left field ! i will take a steady eddie fielder who hits 275 with some pop over a gazelle who occaisonally makes a splash play

[@billd8324]

@@Michael-hq1iq Exactly. I remember all the plays last season where he went all out diving and snagging some balls that should have been hits. Plus you don't screw with the most consistent bat in your lineup. He's still young and doesn't need pushed over to 1B.

[@hamiljohn]

My immediate take, yet another guy from Toronto. Pretty underwhelming.

[@jgreasy1213]

They never said reynolds was moving to 1b full time. This doesn't negate what they said. He's probably going to play some 1b.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

A big acquisition? Is that supposed to be a joke? Would rather still have Ortiz.

[@bobross1550]

Everybody that keeps busting out the advanced stats saying don't worry, Ortiz sucks....he got RESULTS more often than not, and had a good attitude being overlooked all the time. Horwitz seems interesting but I'd have rather kept Ortiz in the rotation where he belongs.

[@john670]

Really? 112 games isn't enough time for there to be a scouting report on a guy?

[@41Brother2]

Meh. Doesn't move the needle

[@BJBiringer]

I am not impressed. Too many question marks. This team needs so much more and the organization is an absolute failure at developing and identifying talent.

[@billd8324]

Soooooo yesterday Skipper Sheltie was telling us how BRay was prepping to play 1B. 24 hr +/- later and voila, we have a new 1Baseman. These guys obviously have NO plan and are just throwing the spaghetti against the wall.

[@Adam_Mitch]

I can maybe see Reynolds platooning at 1B when they face lefties but I wouldn’t mind them just DH-ing him.

[@forgottenpath5919]

I don't think that's fair. Plans aren't straitjackets. If a good 1B man becomes available, you pull the trigger. Moving Reynolds to 1B was an option, not a requirement.

[@ao513]

Orrrrrr an opportunity presented itself and they used a position of strength to acquire a potential 5+ year answer at a position of need.

[@billd8324]

@@forgottenpath5919 My point being if you saw the interview with Shelton it was presented as BRay was going to 1B this year. Watch the interview it's still available. Maybe things changed in 24 hrs but with this group color me skeptical.

[@billd8324]

@@ao513 Maybe.

[@smi3099]

What a Joke! Sell the team now. Enough is enough!!!!

[@johnmassung]

He'll fit in nicely with Trey Cabbage (who?) & De La Cruz, too. He was a major disappointment.

[@williamjpellas0314]

What took so long? DK, this is not hard to figure out. He was blocked in the Blue Jays organization by a mediocre, just-a-guy player you may have heard of: Vlad Guerrero Jr. Did you even look at Horwitz's career body of work? You're usually better than this, DK. You didn't do your homework here.

[@davewhite113]

No Power for a corner position. Already have a ping hitter at third. This guy is probably no better than Billy Cook.

[@danielcorreard3746]

this is a typical cherington trade he either trades good players for mediocre prospects or good prospects for mediocre players the pirates seem to prefer mediocrity to winning please nutting sell the team.

[@garyrhone1395]

Blah! Show me before I buy this product. When they develop a track record , I will believe again.

[@blutomindpretzel1735]

another useless move. I'd care but.....

[@vinniepaul182]

Meh.

[@somedudeontwitterstalkedme3829]

Cleveland fan here, so I get the cost saving moves that a team needs to make when they don't have a big budget, I am confused, you say you wanted a fresh set of eyes and this trade I was kind of excited was coming to Cleveland, even though I will miss the glove of Gimmy was picked by the guy you just hired two weeks ago, isn't that the fresh set of eyes you want to make the choice? I just think this is one oe those both teams will be happy trades. Go Guardians

[@billzitsch6995]

Guardians will go further than the Pirates, that's for sure!