The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the most surprising teams this MLB season.
At a 57-58 record, Pittsburgh is hanging around in the National League Wild Card race, sitting 3.5 games back of the final spot.
The team set their sites on October by becoming buyers at the August 3rd Trade Deadline and aggressively overhauling their bullpen with key additions such as Luke Weaver and Camilo Doval.
While these pieces, as well as their offseason acquisitions, will be a big part of their playoff push, one move did not work out as they had hoped.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have released veteran designated hitter, Marcell Ozuna.
Ozuna signed with Pittsburgh on a one-year, $12 million contract this past offseason, he was expected to be a big power bat in the middle of their lineup like he has been his whole career.
No one could have expected the 35-year-old to fall as far as he did this season.
In 70 games, the two-time Silver Slugger slashed .203/.286/.327, a .613 OPS, with only eight home runs, 29 RBI and 51 hits.
Last season, Ozuna hit for a .755 OPS. The three-time All-Star also had an above .900 OPS in both 2023 and 2024.
It is a surprising move by the Pirates to release him at this point in the season, but it would make sense for him to join another organization in the near future.
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