The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to continue looking for veteran bats this offseason, but one rumored target has drawn criticism from the fanbase, and the reasoning behind it is a bit unfair.

FanSided’s Emma Lingan argued that a potential signing of Marcell Ozuna wouldn’t just be a questionable roster move, but it’d also send the wrong message to Andrew McCutchen, a franchise legend in the middle of a weird situation with the organization as a free agent.

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Lingan wrote that the idea of Ozuna in Pittsburgh is more than a simple on-field fit problem. In her opinion, it directly discredits what McCutchen still represents to the Pirates.

“If Ozuna signs, McCutchen is gone. Not because he can’t help – but because the Pirates chose not to value what he brings relative to the alternatives. An Ozuna signing would also create ripple effects the Pirates don’t need. If he locks down the DH role nearly every day, Ryan O’Hearn gets pushed into more outfield and first base reps and takes those opportunities away from Jake Mangum and Spencer Horwitz, respectively.

“Meanwhile, McCutchen already fits. He knows the role. He’s accepted it. He’s handled it without complaint. Replacing that with Ozuna doesn’t solve a problem – it creates a louder one. McCutchen’s leadership still counts for something, too, even if the spreadsheets ignore it. This roster is young. This team is trying to take the next step. And whether ownership wants to admit it or not, credibility matters,” she wrote.

Yes, McCutchen isn’t great, but McCutchen isn’t just another aging scrub on the roster, as he’s a franchise icon who is fine with sitting around and doing the little things to help a team.

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On the contrary, and perhaps something we all knew, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote that while McCutchen is an icon in Pittsburgh, he can’t force the team to sign him.

“Bravado aside, McCutchen at 39 surely knows he has only so much control. He cannot bully the Pirates into signing him. The team has endured seven straight losing seasons, three since his return. McCutchen is not to blame for the continuing malaise, but the Pirates are making a greater effort this offseason to fix their offense. If McCutchen feels unwanted, he can sign as a free agent with any of the 29 other clubs – and still retire as a Pirate at some other time,” he wrote.