Pirates Cut Marcell Ozuna After $12 Million Struggles at DH

The Pittsburgh Pirates are moving on from one of their highest-profile offseason signings, releasing designated hitter Marcell Ozuna after months of underperformance. The decision, first reported by Mike Rodriguez and confirmed by MLB.com, comes as the team looks to inject new life into a lineup weakened by injuries and lackluster production from the DH spot. Ozuna, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract after the Pirates missed out on other free agent targets, never found his rhythm at the plate in Pittsburgh. Through 280 plate appearances, the 35-year-old posted a .203 batting average, a .286 on-base percentage, and a .327 slugging percentage-numbers that fell well below league averages and expectations for a middle-of-the-order bat.

Ozuna's struggles were not limited to his overall slash line. His strikeout rate ballooned to a career-worst 28.6%, and he managed only one month (June) with league-average offensive output, even then striking out in more than a third of his plate appearances. The Pirates' designated hitters as a group, led primarily by Ozuna, have combined for a .223/.293/.363 line and a 79 wRC+ (weighted runs created plus), ranking among the bottom four teams in Major League Baseball for DH production this season. Only the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Royals have fared worse in that category. The lack of offensive output has been compounded by a series of injuries to key hitters, including Oneil Cruz (broken fingers), Konnor Griffin (torn hand tendon), and Ryan O'Hearn (quad strain), the latter expected to miss at least six weeks.

To fill the roster spot, the Pirates are calling up outfielder Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis. Simon, 26, has been one of the organization's most productive minor leaguers this year, hitting .330 with a .419 on-base percentage and a .470 slugging percentage over 428 plate appearances. He has demonstrated both power and speed, with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases in 40 attempts, while maintaining a strong 12.4% walk rate and a below-average 17.4% strikeout rate. Simon's performance in Triple-A has consistently outpaced his limited major league exposure, which included 88 plate appearances with Miami last season before he was claimed by Pittsburgh on waivers during the offseason.

With the MLB trade deadline now passed, the Pirates had little flexibility to move Ozuna's contract, making a release the only viable option. Once he clears release waivers, Ozuna will become a free agent and can sign with any team for the prorated league minimum, though a minor league deal appears more likely given his recent performance. Despite his struggles this year, Ozuna hit 79 home runs across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, suggesting that a turnaround is not impossible, but the odds are increasingly long as he enters his mid-30s.

According to MLB's official statistics for the 2025 season through July, the average designated hitter in the National League has posted a .247 batting average and a .420 slugging percentage. The Pirates' DHs, led by Ozuna, have lagged significantly behind these benchmarks, contributing to the team's below-average run production and placing additional pressure on the remaining healthy hitters. The Pirates' overall offensive output has been further hampered by the absence of key contributors, with the team ranking in the bottom third of the league in runs scored per game.

Designated hitter is a specialized role in Major League Baseball, intended to provide consistent offensive production without the defensive demands of playing the field. Teams often use the DH spot to extend the careers of veteran sluggers or to rotate regulars for rest. When a team's DH underperforms, it can create a ripple effect throughout the lineup, forcing managers to shuffle players and potentially expose less experienced hitters to major league pitching. For clubs like the Pirates, who operate with tighter payroll constraints than many rivals, the financial and roster consequences of a high-profile signing not delivering can be especially acute, influencing both short-term competitiveness and long-term roster planning.