George Springer could be the veteran bat the Pirates need, and the former Blue Jays star would walk straight into Marcell Ozuna's DH job.

Pittsburgh is closer than it's been in a while. The Pirates haven't broken through to the playoffs yet, but they put together a winning season in 2026.

Their DH for much of that season was Ozuna. They can't keep running him out there in 2027, and Springer would be a clear upgrade even at this stage of his career.

That stage matters. He regressed in 2026, took a turn on the injured list and is reportedly among the veterans mulling retirement this winter.

So why would a club on the rise bet on a veteran coming off a down year? Because the DH spot erases his biggest weakness.

Springer and Bo Bichette posted the worst Fielding Run Value marks among Blue Jays with 1,000-plus innings from 2024 through 2026. In Pittsburgh, the glove would stay in his locker.

Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz could use a veteran voice in Don Kelly's clubhouse

The culture piece might matter more than the bat. Springer embraced a leadership role on a young, ascending club in Toronto, and those Blue Jays reached the World Series in 2025.

Pittsburgh has its own core to build around. Paul Skenes anchors a pitching staff good enough to contend, and Cruz owns the hardest-hit ball of the Statcast era.

The Pirates have also consistently ranked in the bottom five in payroll. A short deal for a veteran DH fits that budget far better than a splashy free agent ever would.

Pittsburgh should make the offer. A one-year flier costs little, and a club still learning how to win needs someone who's already done it on the biggest stage.

It's like bringing in a veteran head chef to run the line for one season in a young kitchen. The food improves, and the cooks pick up habits that stick after he leaves.

He still logged 411 games over the last three seasons, third-most on the Blue Jays. That kind of availability is exactly what a DH slot demands.

There's a Toronto twist here. The Jays have been urged to trade for Cruz, which means Springer could end up mentoring the slugger his old club wants to pry loose.

First, Springer has to decide whether he wants to keep playing at all. If he does, Kelly's lineup card has an obvious spot waiting for him.