Although there were many positive takeaways from his 2025 season, it is important to acknowledge that he did take a step back offensively from his 2024 production. Both his max exit velocity and average exit velocity decreased, which could be a sign of his age beginning to show. His hard-hit rate and barrel rate followed a similar trend, but both marks still inspire hope for his 2026 season.
Taking everything into consideration, this is an undeniable upgrade for the Bucs’ offense. Ozuna will be another much-needed offensive upgrade.
What Does this Mean for Another McCutchen Reunion?
Now that we’ve explored the positive impact Ozuna will have offensively, we have to talk about the elephant in the room: Andrew McCutchen.
McCutchen’s reunion with the Pirates was one of the few positive things during some of the hardest years in recent memory for the club. His presence was a ray of sunshine and hope when all else seemed dark, and he constantly stood as a reminder that winning was possible in Pittsburgh.
However, the signing of Marcell Ozuna almost certainly concludes McCutchen’s second stint with the Pirates. Since returning to Pittsburgh, McCutchen has been almost exclusively the team’s DH, and with Ozuna not appearing in the field since 2023, it seems unlikely that a starting job will be available for McCutchen.
Now, this isn’t to say there isn’t room for McCutchen on the bench. According to RosterResource, the Pirates’ bench is projected to feature Jake Mangum, Henry Davis, Jhostynxon Garcia, and Nick Yorke, and it isn’t guaranteed that this group will make for enough quality depth.
The question isn’t whether McCutchen is still a big league hitter, as he posted a 95 wRC+ last season. Rather, the question is whether McCutchen is still deserving of a regular role on a Pirates team that desperately needed an offensive answer after 2025. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is at best a “probably not.”
McCutchen still does some things quite well. Like Ozuna, he posted elite walk and chase rates in 2025, and he can still drive the ball with authority on occasion. However, at 39 years old, there isn’t a ton else for him to fall back on, especially considering McCutchen is a DH without significant thump in his bat.