The Pittsburgh Pirates have been active this offseason, and the team is still searching for an impact bat.
MLB insiders Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Pirates are showing interest in signing free agent slugger Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna is one of the top free agent hitters available, and Pittsburgh is looking to make another splash to further bolster its lineup.
“The Pittsburgh Pirates remain open to another lineup addition, people familiar with the club’s thinking said,” the insiders wrote, in a piece published on Wednesday. “Among the players that interest them is designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, the No. 38-ranked player on The Athletic’s Free Agent Big Board.
“The Pirates’ lineup contains enough versatility to accommodate someone who profiles mostly as a DH, but things could get tricky. A potential addition of Ozuna could alter playing time for Jake Mangum and Spencer Horwitz, who are projected to play left field and first base, respectively.”
The Pirates already made a splash by signing Ryan O’Hearn. Yet, the insiders believe Pittsburgh is still looking to make a splash, and Ozuna can give manager Don Kelly some flexibility with his lineup on a day-to-day basis.
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“Pittsburgh’s versatility allows for them to play matchups, but there’s room for offensive improvement at third base, left field and DH — all three profile as the club’s weakest spots, according to FanGraphs’ Depth Charts’ projections,” the insiders added.
“They could use more thump in the middle of the order whether it’s with someone like Ozuna at DH or a trade candidate at third base. As things stand, Jared Triolo profiles as the Pirates’ third baseman, but he could be a utility player with an ability to play all four infield positions.”
Ozuna hit .232 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last season with the Atlanta Braves. His career high is 40 home runs, which he did in 2023, and he has had 100+ RBIs three times. The 35-year-old is a three-time MLB All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
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