The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly cutting designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, effective immediately. This is a massive move mid-season, considering the team signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal hoping for some serious pop at the plate. It just hasn’t panned out, not even close.
The Performance Disaster
This was a boom-or-bust shot by Pittsburgh, plain and simple, and man, it was a bust. Ozuna, now 35, has been a ghost at the plate for them this year. Through 70 games, his slash line is a brutal .203/.286/.327. Eight home runs and 29 RBI just isn’t cutting it for a guy you brought in to slug and be a marquee free-agent signing. His play had not panned out over the course of the season, and the numbers scream it.
The History of Decline
It’s not like this came out of nowhere, either. Ozuna, a three-time All-Star, Gold Glover in 2017, and a two-time Silver Slugger recipient in 2017 and 2020, was already showing decline. He hit just 21 homers for the Atlanta Braves in 145 games back in 2025, which led to them not re-signing him. Pittsburgh took that gamble, betting on his past glory from a career that started way back in 2013 with the Miami Marlins. He spent five years there before getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in a massive deal for guys like Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra, Zac Gallen, and Daniel Castano. After two years in St. Louis, he landed with the Braves in 2020. He was even part of their 2021 World Series-winning team, though he missed that postseason due to off-the-field issues and administrative leave. But now, in 2026, it’s clear that the pop just isn’t there anymore.
With a mutual option for 2027 on the table, this release means Pittsburgh is just cutting their losses on a $12 million swing that didn’t connect. It’s a tough pill for the Bucs to swallow, but sometimes you gotta rip off the band-aid.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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