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Pirates Cut Ozuna in Stunning Roster Shakeup
Pirates Cut Ties with Struggling Slugger Marcell Ozuna
What Happened?
The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to release veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. This means they’re cutting him from the team entirely, even though they still owe him money on his contract. Reporter Mike Rodriguez broke the news on August 5th.
Important Point: Getting "released" is different from getting "traded." When a player is released, they become a free agent immediately and can sign with any team. The Pirates still have to pay the rest of his salary.
Who Is Marcell Ozuna?
- Age: 35 years old
- Position: Designated Hitter (DH) — this means he only bats; he doesn’t play defense
- Contract: Signed a one-year, $12 million deal this past offseason
- Why he was signed: The Pirates missed out on their top target, Kyle Schwarber, so they pivoted to Ozuna as Plan B
Why Did the Pirates Release Him?
Simply put: He wasn’t hitting well enough. Here are the numbers that tell the story:
Ozuna’s 2026 Season Stats (Through 280 Plate Appearances)
| Stat | What It Means | Ozuna’s Number | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | How often he gets a hit | .203 | Very low — only 1 hit per 5 at-bats |
| On-Base % | How often he reaches base | .286 | Below average |
| Slugging % | Power hitting (extra-base hits) | .327 | Not enough power for a DH |
| wRC+ | Overall offense vs. league (100 = average) | 69 | 31% worse than league average |
| Strikeout Rate | How often he strikes out | 28.6% | Career worst |
Important Point: wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) is a stat that measures a hitter’s total offensive value. 100 is league average. Ozuna’s 69 means he was creating 31% fewer runs than an average hitter. For a player whose only job is to hit, that’s really bad.
The "Good" Month Wasn’t Even That Good
- June was his only month at league-average offense
- But even then, he struck out 36% of the time — that’s more than 1 in 3 plate appearances!
How Bad Was the DH Spot Overall?
The Pirates’ designated hitters as a group (mostly Ozuna) have been one of the worst in baseball:
- Team DH Line: .223 / .293 / .363
- Team DH wRC+: 79 — 4th worst in MLB
- Only the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Royals got less production from the DH spot
The Injury Crisis Making Things Worse
The Pirates are already missing three of their best hitters:
| Player | Injury | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| Oneil Cruz | Broken fingers | Unknown |
| Konnor Griffin | Torn tendon in hand | Unknown |
| Ryan O’Hearn | Quad strain | At least 6 weeks |
Important Point: Losing three key bats at once puts huge pressure on the remaining lineup. Releasing Ozuna now — while shorthanded — shows how little confidence the team had in him turning it around.
What Happens Next at DH?
The Pirates will use a "by-committee" approach — rotating several players through the DH spot:
- Ryan O’Hearn — when he returns (6+ weeks)
- Bryan Reynolds — but he’s needed in the outfield most days
- Jhostynxon Garcia — could get more playing time now
- Jacob Gonzalez — another option to cycle in
- Others as needed
Manager Don Kelly will mix and match based on matchups and who needs a day off from the field.
Step-by-Step: How This Decision Likely Went Down
- Offseason: Pirates miss on Kyle Schwarber → sign Marcell Ozuna to 1-year, $12M deal
- April–July: Ozuna struggles badly; team gives him long leash hoping he’d heat up
- Early August: Key hitters go down with injuries → lineup strain increases
- August 5: Front office decides enough is enough → release Ozuna
- Now: Rotate younger/internal options at DH while waiting for injured stars to return
Summary
- Pirates released DH Marcell Ozuna on August 5th
- He hit .203/.286/.327 with a 69 wRC+ (31% below average)
- Career-worst 28.6% strikeout rate at age 35
- Team DH production was 4th worst in MLB (79 wRC+)
- Three top hitters (Cruz, Griffin, O’Hearn) are injured
- DH role will now be shared by Reynolds, Garcia, Gonzalez, and eventually O’Hearn
- Manager Don Kelly gets more flexibility to mix and match
FAQ
Why would the Pirates pay $12 million to a player just to cut him?
Because the contract was guaranteed. They owe him the money whether he plays or not. They decided his poor performance was hurting the team more than the sunk cost of his salary.
What is a "Designated Hitter" (DH)?
In the American League (and now universal in MLB), the DH bats in place of the pitcher but doesn’t play defense. It’s a spot reserved for a strong hitter. If the DH can’t hit, it’s a huge hole in the lineup.
Could Ozuna sign with another team?
Yes! He’s now a free agent. Another team might sign him for the league minimum (since the Pirates still pay his $12M), hoping he figures it out. But at 35 with these numbers, it’s unlikely he’ll get a major role.
Who is Jhostynxon Garcia?
A younger Pirates player who hasn’t had much big-league time yet. With Ozuna gone, he’ll likely get a real chance to prove he belongs.
Does this mean the Pirates are giving up on the season?
Not necessarily. It means they stopped waiting for a veteran to magically fix himself and are turning to younger, unproven options with more upside — while waiting for their actual stars to get healthy.
Article based on reporting by Mike Rodriguez (August 5, 2026). Stats via Baseball-Reference.
