Marcell Ozuna’s six-year run with the Atlanta Braves ended on February 8 when the veteran slugger signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The deal includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1.5 million buyout, guaranteeing Ozuna at least $12 million.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the agreement. ESPN’s Jeff Passan later confirmed the contract structure.
The 35-year-old designated hitter became a free agent when his four-year, $65 million contract with Atlanta expired after the 2025 season. Despite speculation during a difficult final year, the Braves never placed Ozuna on waivers or designated him for assignment. His departure followed the standard free agency process after the club declined his 2026 option.
Table of Contents
A Season Derailed by Injury
Ozuna struggled through 2025 while battling a hip injury revealed in June. He finished with a .232/.355/.400 slash line, 21 home runs, and 68 RBIs across 145 games. His 114 wRC+ remained above league average, but represented a significant drop from his previous two seasons.
The power surge that defined 2023 and 2024 vanished. Ozuna had averaged 39.5 home runs and posted a 147 wRC+ over those two years. He finished fourth in National League MVP voting in 2024 after batting .302/.378/.546 with 39 homers and earning an All-Star selection.
His exit velocity dropped from 92 mph to 89.9 mph in 2025. Hard-hit rate fell from 53.4% to 44.6%. The numbers pointed to more than just bad luck.
June and July proved brutal. Ozuna hit .181 with a .615 OPS during that stretch. Manager Brian Snitker reduced his playing time, rotating catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin into the designated hitter spot.
Trade Deadline Standstill
Atlanta explored trading Ozuna before the July 31 deadline. Three teams reportedly engaged in discussions, according to Braves insider Ryan Cothran. None materialized into offers.
Ozuna held 10-5 rights after spending more than a decade in the majors and five consecutive years with the Braves. Those protections allowed him to veto any trade. Multiple reports indicated he blocked potential deals, though the exact details remained unclear.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos later confirmed he never approached Ozuna about waiving his no-trade clause. Medical concerns and inconsistent production limited interest from contending teams.
The hip injury complicated matters. Teams hesitated to absorb $16 million for a player fighting through physical issues at age 35.
Why Atlanta Chose Flexibility
Anthopoulos addressed the decision not to re-sign Ozuna during spring training media sessions on February 13. His explanation focused on roster construction under new manager Walt Weiss.
“When Marcell is hitting 39, 40 homers and a top-five MVP bat, those are guys that are easy to carry as everyday DHs,” Anthopoulos said. “The roster just made more sense with having that slot open. It allows us now to move guys around.”
The Braves plan to rotate players through the designated hitter position rather than commit to one full-time option. Murphy returns from hip surgery. Baldwin needs regular at-bats without catching every day. Ronald Acuรฑa Jr., recovering from his second major knee injury, benefits from reduced outfield time.
Anthopoulos acknowledged the hip injury impacted Ozuna’s production: “He was great in the month of April, even his May numbers were really good, but in April, he was elite. But he got banged up with the hip early, and he was able to overcome that, but I think it impacted his year.”
The Braves acquired utility player Mauricio Dubon and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski this winter. Both players can rotate through the DH spot while providing defensive versatility. Atlanta prioritized flexibility over committing another year to a 35-year-old with declining metrics and no defensive value.
Pirates Address Power Shortage
Pittsburgh finished last in MLB with 117 home runs in 2025. General manager Ben Cherington spent the winter addressing that weakness.
The Pirates acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay in a three-team trade. Lowe hit 31 home runs in 2025 and carries an $11.5 million salary for 2026. They signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, who hit 17 homers and made the All-Star team in 2025.
Ozuna gives them a third veteran bat. The three newcomers combined for 69 home runs last season.
Cherington faces pressure to build around ace Paul Skenes while the 23-year-old remains under team control at a pre-arbitration salary. Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award but watched his team finish 71-91. The window to capitalize on cost-controlled elite pitching closes quickly.
Pittsburgh’s payroll sits around $101 million after the Ozuna signing. The team reportedly targets approximately $110 million for 2026, leaving room for additional moves.
The PNC Park Challenge
Ozuna’s track record at his new home ballpark raises questions. He owns a .225 career average with one home run in 36 games at PNC Park. The stadium has historically suppressed right-handed power, though recent measurements show more neutral conditions.
His maximum exit velocity dropped to 112.1 mph in 2025, the lowest mark since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Bat speed decreased measurably. The data suggests age-related decline rather than injury-limited performance that could bounce back.
The Pirates bet on a rebound. Even Ozuna’s down 2025 season produced a 114 wRC+ that would have ranked second on Pittsburgh’s roster. The one-year commitment limits risk if decline continues.
McCutchen’s Future in Question
The signing likely ends Andrew McCutchen’s second stint with Pittsburgh. The 39-year-old served as the primary designated hitter in 2025, batting .239/.333/.367 with 12 home runs across 120 games at the position.
McCutchen met with Pirates owner Bob Nutting in December after expressing frustration with the team’s offseason communication. He made clear his desire to return for 2026. The Ozuna signing eliminates his path to regular playing time.
The 2013 NL MVP could accept a bench role or seek opportunities elsewhere. His social media activity in recent weeks featured workout videos and reflections on his Pittsburgh career, fueling speculation about his future.
Looking Ahead
Ozuna opens spring training as Pittsburgh’s everyday designated hitter in a lineup that added three veteran bats. His role in the middle of the order depends on recapturing the power stroke that produced 79 home runs from 2023 to 2024.
The Braves begin their flexibility experiment with Weiss at the helm. Their rotating DH approach could maximize talent across the roster or expose depth issues if injuries mount during the season.
For Ozuna, 2026 represents a prove-it year. Another down season at age 35 could end his career as a regular player. A bounce-back campaign might earn him one more contract, though the designated hitter market rarely rewards players entering their late thirties.
The mutual option for 2027 gives both sides an easy exit or a chance to continue if the fit works. Pittsburgh gets power without long-term commitment. Ozuna gets a chance to rebuild his value in a lineup desperate for right-handed production.
Spring training opens next week. The questions about hip health, exit velocity, and aging curves will start finding answers.
