BREAKING: Marcell Ozuna Chooses New Playing Destination

February 09, 2026 ,

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna rounds the bases during 2025 game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally found the middle of the order thump they have been hunting all winter, agreeing to a one year, $12 million contract with veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna. 

The deal reportedly includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1.5 million buyout. 

After finishing last season with just 117 home runs, easily the fewest in baseball, the Pirates are betting Ozuna’s track record can change the vibe of their lineup quickly.

Marcell Ozuna Brings Power, Patience, and a Big Resume

Even with a dip in 2025, Ozuna still looks like a meaningful upgrade for a club that needed instant offense. 

The 35 year old hit .232 with a .355 on base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage last season, popping 21 home runs with 68 RBIs across 592 plate appearances, and his approach stayed intact with an elite walk rate helping keep him above average at the plate. 

He is a pure designated hitter at this stage, but the bat has been real for a long time, and the accolades back it up, with three All Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, a Gold Glove, and multiple seasons receiving National League MVP votes, including a fourth place finish in 2024. 

Why the Pirates Are Betting on a Bounce Back

The Pirates are not paying for the 2025 line alone, they are paying for what came right before it. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Ozuna was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league, crushing 79 home runs and driving in 204 runs, and he followed that up in 2024 with a monster year that included a .302 average, 39 home runs, and a top five MVP finish. 

Pittsburgh has already added Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn to deepen the lineup, and Ozuna fits perfectly as the kind of presence that forces pitchers to actually work through the heart of the order instead of dancing around it.

There is some risk here, because Ozuna’s power numbers fell last year and he dealt with a hip issue, but the Pirates are buying a relatively short commitment with upside. 

If he even lands somewhere between his 2025 floor and his 2023 to 2024 peak, Pittsburgh’s offense looks a whole lot more like a threat, which is exactly what they have been trying to solve since the season ended.

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

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