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.
As a pirates fan I agree
I’d say 6 good years there, with 4 being great, but either way that was a long time ago. Not sure why fans can’t let go of a player who is done, and instead thinks Fans should pass out contracts that then keep them from signing productive players.
Modified-Because some fans feel instead of think.
Your name is prescient with that poor attempt at a dig.
Even for a short time, he turned that team completely around from year after year of 90÷ losing seasons to 3 consecutive playoffs appearances 2013-15.
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.
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.
I like it. Hopefully that happens
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
The Pirates might talk to the White Sox about a trade for Miguel Vargas ( league-average hitter in 2025) or Lenyn Sosa (led the team with 22 home runs in 2025).
Doubt White Sox will deal either of them.
They already gave him one more year. Twice. This isn’t a beer softball league where old guys hang around to play catch and drink beer. 0.9 bWAR over the past two years in 995 ABs. I love Yaz, but I am glad he retired when he did.
Hes not been the franchise icon since like 2013
Time to move on
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
Both dynamics are very true
I think most reasonable fans know he had his chance to hang it up on a pretty good note either of the last 2 years. Right now most of us just want the team to be better and if it means without him we’re agreeable with that. Cutch is and will always be a Pittsburgh legend. It sucks that it’s going down like this but everyone has a time and he was given ample opportunity to go out on his terms. There’s a very short window with Skenes and a potential lockout so this year might be the most important of all. If it means there’s no spot for Cutch then it’s not a huge loss.
Same way we reacted when he spent half his career on other teams before returning to Pittsburgh when no one else wanted him
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?
JohnG-Good point. Triolo has similar WAR in less time. Both Rengifo and Urias have better batting numbers. I don’t think you could go wrong picking up either as insurance. Let them compete and have more options.
Don’t forget about Luis Urias. He has some pop at the hot corner and I have seen worse guys trotted out there.
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.
Bart Harrington and Termarr would be a gross overpay for Paredes. Why give up so much control for a rental
He’s not a rental he has 2 years of control left. 2 years of control is a rental now? I didn’t know that. Why is everyone thinking Paredes is in his final year of team control?
As a Mets fan I would like to see how Mauricio would perform if given a chance to play everyday.
I could see them making a deal with the Jays on either. Its realistic with the layout of the Jays present lineup
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.
The guy acts like he’s a 1st ballot hall of famer when he’s nowhere close. He and the organization should’ve worked this out privately.
That’s the painful truth. If he wasn’t Andrew McCutchen he probably would have been released last year. He still has the quick wrists to jack a ball sometimes but not often enough to be a full time player – he should have been a short side platoon at best. A team intending to contend can’t afford to give him a roster spot anymore. Cutch obviously doesn’t see it that way, and that’s a shame, but comes a time for everyone.
you don’t understand what Cutch means to the city of Pittsburgh
He’s never won a thing in Pittsburgh.
You may be right – I don’t live there anymore. But the fact is, if Pittsburgh fans want a winning team this year, the chances are better without Cutch. Ozuna may flop like a codfish – who knows? But we know what Cutch brings – good vibes but inadequate performance. Good vibes don’t win games. They should have told him last year and given him suitable send-off but they didn’t have the guts to look him in the eye and tell him he’s done. Reality always wins in the end.
He cannot play forever regardless of what he means to pittsburgh
What does he mean to Pittsburgh?
Last i checked he spent half his career elsewhere and came back when it was convenient at the end
2013-15 was a great era, but pretty much everyone else involved is retired now, besides Gerrit Cole
Still room for Verlander…
Verlander wants to pitch for a contender.
Pirates are a contender
Also no one else wants him
Orioles.
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.
Schmitt does seem like a fit, but can’t see them giving up Barco for him. He’s too good of a prospect and the only lefty they have right now.
Realistically, probably wouldn’t take Barco to get him.
He’s blocked at his position, just hitting his prime years, and SFG has another UTL on the roster. Bullpen is not great, so any good arm probably gets him.
I’m not sure he’s that much of an upgrade over Triolo. Triolo is a better defender and has maybe just a hair less pop but more upside given his size and swing profile.
I’m thinking he’d replace Gonzales, who I don’t think is a viable SS. His range and arm haven’t been good at 2B. I don’t understand how they expect him to play SS.
Schmitt and Triolo would be my starters on the left side of the infield till Griffin takes the starting spot of the weaker one, who becomes the utility guy.
You may be right, it may not be worth the cost, but right now they have no backup at SS or 3B unless they bring Griffin up or move Cruz back to the infield. I want Griffin to earn his spot, not to have him forced up because they have no other options.
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
If Ozuna turned them down, then they likely wouldve turned to Cutch.
I think they did tell him, which is why he was crying about [being told] he cant play OF anymore a few weeks ago
Cutch I believe said he is taking it year by year.
Pirates didn’t know he wouldn’t be back. If someone offered Ozuna 12 13 15 million Cutch might have been back. Not much left. Pirates hate Tauchman Grichuk etc as they took Pham over them. Cutch or Pham or Marte or getting slim
Marte would have been acceptable too.
Grichuk did not want to come to the Pirates.
Pham had more power than Tauchman.
Fake news *washed likes me doing this
Tauchman 263 .356 .400 .756
Pham 245 .330 .370 .700
It’s pretty close but we’re playing baseball not horseshoes.
People say life ends at 50…I’m starting to feel light headed.
Alright,you made your point Mrs Tauchman.
I love Cutch. He’s the best position player the team has had this century, second best overall. But Ozuna hit 79 HRs in 2023 and 2024. Even his bad year last year was better than Cutch’s, and he’s four years younger. For once, they splurged on the better player rather than cash in on the PR move. I hate to see Cutch go, but I can’t be critical of them for prioritizing winning for once.
Until KG that is!
I’m glad the pirates are making moves. If they manage to get paredes I would say they’ve done a great job improving the offense. Given their difficulties signing players to term, they’ve done well.
Sign Chris Bassitt next
I don’t know that they could have avoided the McCutchen situation. The biggest issue is that he still wants to play. I have not seen the Pirates make any negative comments about McCutchen. I don’t believe that anyone else is going to sign him to an MLB contract. It could be worse. What if they signed him and had to deal with releasing him midyear. Imagine the dissension that would cause in the middle of the season!!!
The situation is he underperformed and the team moved on. His feelings may be hurt but it’s not like they traded him or released him. He played out his contract, did he have, or believe he had some sort of “gentleman’s agreement” with Nutting/Cherington? I don’t know but there was never a guarantee they would sign him back
every offensive player on the Pirates last year under performed not just cutch
Cutch actually did the best that he could,and still was a decent hitter.
The point though is he has gone downhill for three or four years and will not go back uphill in 2026.
They need a DH with power.
Cutch does not understand that he should just gracefully retire if he cannot get a position with another team.
He may have to accept a minor league contract.
He is not going to do that.
Time waits for no one.
And for once Nutting is trying to put together a good team.
Hon-It would have been a circus and that is what posters on here do not understand.
There is no situation. Attendance should go up. Wins should go up. And all without Cutch.
It’s a small minority of actual fans who wanted Cutch back. Signing a guy with some frowned upon to say the least legal problems gets them to speak up more. But I didn’t see them say please please don’t get Schwarber I want limp noodle bat Cutch back instead.
It’s time for Cutch to hang up the spikes.
Quintana is still out there and a reunion probably shouldn’t be ruled out. Corbin would be an interesting choice as well
I dunno. He can interact with the fans and contend for a mvp with independent wild things!
If Nutting builds it, they will come……
If Paredes is truly available, I’d make an effort to get him. I last heard Tremarr Johnson was one of the names Astros were asking for. And 115 million dollar payroll for this season, is manageable if they do have Paredes in Pittsburgh uniform. I really wouldn’t mind a trade for Paredes, just a big no for Walker if that is who Astros are willing to ship out.
It’s a battle. You want him and the Astros fan doesn’t want to give him!
Mackey Rosenthal say it ain’t so but you go keep those dreams alive!
I’d like to see a 3 way trade of Paredes to Bucs, Kwan to Houston, whatever prospects it takes between Bucs and Stros to go back to Cleveland. Seems to solve alot of everyone’s problems/needs. This is coming from a Stros fan who doesn’t want to see Paredes leave, but we need more balance
“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”
Intentionally misleading?
Just don’t know any better?
Sloppy wording?
Pirates were middle of the pack-ish in 3B production – tied for 20th in fWAR.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qua…
Talking about Ke’Bryan Hayes and totally ignoring defense is absurd.
Not a single true actual Pirates fan on here. No true Pirates fan would day its time to move on from Andrew. Maybe an old boomer might who still thinks it’s 1979…but anyone from Millennium or Gen z would tell you cutch is worth it.
And some hang on longer than they should. The reluctance of reality that father time is telling them it’s time to settle in retirement. Had McCutchen shown better numbers the previous 2 years, I would be on the ship to sign him back. His production is regressing and the Pirates can’t afford to have that production in the lineup. They have Triolo, Gonzales, and Davis in that lineup who else hits that the Mendoza Line. Then they have others like Jack Suwiniski that is below the Mendoza Line still holding a roster spot.
I don’t think McCutchen is ready to call it quits. I believe their last meeting last month, Pirates offered him a position within the organization that will have him spending more time with the family and still supporting the Pittsburgh Pirates community. McCutchen on the other hand, probably feels like he can contribute on any major league club. Again, he only has regressed the last 2 years and many thinks his time is over. Throughout the league, it’s pretty mutual that McCutchen value has diminished
What Shohei does not understand is that the Pirates are actually trying to win this year and realize that they have to spend money to do it.
Many fine players do not realize that their playing time is up and they go on until they embarrass themselves.
The Pirates are doing Cutch a favor.
Otherwise the ending could be very messy.
If Cutch still has something another team will sign him.
But almost all fans know that that will not happen.
Nutting signed him in the first place because he thought that Cutch could help the team and also draw fans but also to honor Cutch for his past service.
He can repay Nutting now by retiring gracefully.
We’re all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children’s game, we just don’t… don’t know when that’s gonna be. Some of us are told at eighteen, some of us are told at forty, but we’re all told.
Cutch can throw out the first pitch at the playoff game.
With that noodle arm? Not sure he’d get it over the plate.
Anyone who loves baseball and played the game has encountered what you said Jim.
Well said.
There should not be a comma before “either.”