The Post Gazette officially cut ties with 35-year-old designated hitter ESPN on Wednesday, releasing him from the active roster during a tight playoff push. The team signed the veteran slugger in February to a one-year, $12 million deal that included a mutual option for 2027, hoping he would serve as a crucial right-handed power threat to anchor their lineup. Instead, Ozuna struggled through a nightmarish slump, finishing his tenure in Pittsburgh batting just .203 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .612 OPS across 70 games while striking out 80 times in 280 plate appearances.
Pittsburgh Releases Designated Hitter Marcell Ozuna
The transaction leaves Ozuna as one of the most disappointing free-agent additions in franchise history. Pirates general manager MLB.com addressed reporters from the dugout in Milwaukee, taking responsibility for the failed on-field partnership. The part on the field just didn’t work out,
Cherington said. We’ll take responsibility for that. We just never got there.
Manager MLB.com and Cherington both defended Ozuna repeatedly throughout the season, citing his positive clubhouse presence, his work ethic, and his strong leadership influence among the club’s Latin players. Cherington noted that underlying metrics suggested the veteran was close to turning a corner, but with the team striving to end a decade-long playoff drought, management ultimately decided a change was necessary.
Roster Shifts and the Pursuit of Flexibility
To take Ozuna’s place on the active and 40-man rosters, the Pirates recalled switch-hitting utility man ESPN from Triple-A Indianapolis. Simon has enjoyed a dominant minor league campaign, leading the International League with a .330 batting average alongside 26 doubles, seven home runs, 63 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases while reaching base safely in 85 of his 99 games. The organization also activated left-handed reliever Lancasteronline from the injured list and optioned reliever Wilber Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
The decision to release Ozuna also stems from a strategic desire to maximize roster flexibility. Team leadership wanted to open up the designated hitter position to rotate multiple players in and out while adding defensive versatility. Ozuna’s playing time had already begun to diminish in recent weeks due to the emergence of rookie Esmerlyn Valdez and a steady drop in production against left-handed pitching, which he was originally signed to combat. Ozuna last appeared in a game on Saturday, going 1 for 4 with a double in Cincinnati.
High Expectations and Prior Success
The acquisition of Ozuna was a rare free-agency expenditure for the budget-conscious Pittsburgh front office, which hoped he would recapture the elite form he displayed during his tenure with the Atlanta Braves. From 2020 through 2025, Ozuna slugged 148 home runs with Atlanta—ranking third among all designated hitters in that span behind only Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber. His resume includes three All-Star appearances, two Silver Slugger awards, a Gold Glove, and four National League MVP votes, peaking with a fourth-place finish in 2024 when he batted .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs.
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