The Pirates added a big bat to the lineup this morning, signing Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027. The agreement is yet another addition for a Pittsburgh front office that has had an uncharacteristically active offseason. The club might not be done making moves, either. Pittsburgh remains in the market for an upgrade at third base, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The team is also looking for a left-handed starter.
Getting better production at the hot corner won’t be difficult, considering the Pirates finished dead last by a decent margin in OPS at the position in 2025. Pittsburgh’s third basemen compiled a .573 mark, nearly 50 points worse than the next-closest team (the Cubs at .621). Ke’Bryan Hayes took the majority of the reps at third base before getting dealt to the Reds. Jared Triolo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Cam Devanney also mixed in. Triolo is penciled in at the position as the roster currently stands.
The free agent market has largely been wiped out. Veterans Luis Rengifo, Ramon Urias, and Santiago Espinal headline the unsigned players. Kiké Hernández is also still available, though a reunion in L.A. seems like the most likely scenario for him.
Isaac Paredes has been the hottest name on the trade market, and Pittsburgh was said to be interested, though that might change after the $12MM investment in Ozuna. Mackey noted the Ozuna signing probably removes Pittsburgh as a Paredes suitor. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic shared a similar sentiment in an appearance on Foul Territory. “They’re probably at their payroll limit, or at least close to it,” Rosenthal said.
FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool estimates Pittsburgh’s financial commitments at $105MM for 2026. As Steve Adams noted in the Ozuna post, the club is trending toward a new franchise record for Opening Day payroll. Paredes is set to make $9.35MM in 2026. Unless the team sent back a notable salary in return, a Paredes trade would push the Pirates’ payroll beyond last year’s mark by more than $25MM.
Locating a left-handed starter should be a bit easier. Pittsburgh has been known to scoop up a reliable veteran or two to fill out the rotation. Andrew Heaney and Bailey Falter served in that capacity in 2025. Jose Quintana, Martín Pérez, and Tyler Anderson have done it in recent years. Quintana and Anderson are still in the market. Patrick Corbin has yet to find a home after a bounce-back season.
[Related: The Pirates’ Rotation Options]
The Ozuna deal could also close the door on another move. As Mackey notes, adding a full-time DH has ramifications for a reunion with longtime star Andrew McCutchen. Ozuna hasn’t played the field since 2023. His time on the grass that season amounted to just a pair of starts. The 35-year-old probably won’t need his glove at any point moving forward. McCutchen has only made 20 appearances in the outfield from 2023 to 2025 in Pittsburgh. He had 445 at-bats at DH last year.
The club was still in talks with the 39-year-old last month, though he expressed frustration about the handling of the situation. McCutchen spent the first nine seasons of his career as a Pirate. He won the 2013 NL MVP award with the club. After bouncing around to the Giants, Yankees, Phillies, and Brewers, McCutchen has returned to the Pirates on identical one-year, $5MM deals the past three seasons.
Photo courtesy of James A. Pittman, Imagn Images
It’s a shame they couldn’t give their franchise icon one more year, especially if they’re choosing Ozuna over him.
Is it ? Idk…not much of a franchise to be the icon of
He also thinks he’s a Pujols level player when he had 4 good years there.
The Cardinals are looking for a right handed outfielder they should sign Andrew McCutchen or trade for Nicholas Castellanos.
No thanks to both.
If you’re looking for an outfielder, better look elsewhere than McCutchen. He cannot play the field anymore and he can’t really hit anymore. When the Pirates choose to pay someone an extra $7Million to play DH, you know that player is 3 seasons past washed.
It’s fair, but if the pirates have aspirations to contend they had to get someone with middle of the order potential, and while Ozuna could be on the decline he was a .900 ops bat 2 seasons ago. Mccutchen is more or less a replacement level player at this point in his career.
Ozuna sucks and makes them worse not better; unless they are trying to have someone to hit women.
I love Cutch but he’s no longer in the same league as Ozuna. This is a good get. Ozuna is still hitterish. They can hire Cutch as hitting or bench coach if they want to keep him around. Cutch’s 2026 on field value is directly proportional to how much LF he can play.
It was a shame when they traded him away many years ago too, but they got Bryan Reynolds out of it.
The game keeps moving forward whether people like it or not. Cutch is 40 and wasnt good enough last season to warrant a full-time DH slot
Im not so sure theres even another team who could use him , let alone the Pirates in win-now mode
How will the Pittsburgh fans react if McCutchen is not on the team. If there is improvement, I believe they will ask for a one game goodbye and be happy.
It’s been a long time since Pittsburgh was competitive. They could be this year if the offense comes around.
If they make playoffs Cutch who?
If it’s a losing season omg Nutting is awful and cheap how could they treat pirates legend like this. Sell the team Bob
Pirates need to sign like 5 more dudes to major contracts and minor contracts with invites. What are they doin lol ?? They got spots to compete for! Bring in the competition!
Rengifo or Urias might be cheap improvements.
How both cannot hit and Triolo is far superior than both combined with the glove, unless is a major upgrade Triolo will be find
Urias has a gold glove. What ya talking about?
I want to keep Paredes, so taking suitors off his market doesn’t make me too sad.
I’m glad you get to keep him
Still tons of options left for a potential 3B upgrade. Trades could be had for (with suggested returns that I’m sure people have many issues with):
Paredes of course (Bart, Harrington, and Termarr I’d suggest)
Baty (Horwitz), Vientos (Harrington and Yorke), and Mauricio (whom I personally would like most)
Jung/Burger from Texas (they need SP but I wonder if they’d be interested in Horwitz)
Schneider/Clement from the Blue Jays (I’d think the Blue Jays really only need prospects now but I have no idea)
They likely would. Though Horwitz is more valuable than Jung/Burger. I’d take Bart, Harrington, and Johnson for Paredes. Schneider is probably cheap, Clement would cost more.
Yes sorry meant to add that the Rangers should add something with Burger/Jung if they got Horwitz. One of their younger arms.
Not much Rangers could add.
Trade for Paredes, sign Zack Littell and call it an offseason.
If the cost is Barco and Triolo no thanks
Paredes going anywhere is now probably dead. Red Sox/Pittsburgh no longer interested. Milwaukee does not have an LHH outfielder.
Pirates can give you Suwinski and Harrington
Pass. I’d rather take Sandlot’s deal. I’d take Taylor Trammell instead.
I love McCutchen, but he didn’t play for free the last three years. He made $15 million dollars and was an okay hitter on a bad team. The fact that he was often their best hitter just shows how bad the team was. I’m pretty sure I was there for his final home game and he received a proper ovation. Everyone seemed to realize it was the end except him. But it is too bad that this couldn’t have been handled better. Would love to see him in a coaching role.
Still room for Verlander…
Verlander wants to pitch for a contender.
Casey Schmitt for Barco.
1-800-Call Buster
Obviously Pirates don’t do it. Who trades a top 100 prospect for a replacement level player?
Casey will get you 20 bombs and GG defense with just a full season playing time @ 3B.
they made a big mistake if not telling McCutchen last August or September that they were not bringing him back.so as to just give him the option to bow out at the end of the season if he wanted to. they should not be bringing him back now, should just offer him a position as advisor to someone in the organization for a couple of years if he should not find a job somewhere else