The Pittsburgh Pirates are at a crossroads this offseason - and the direction they choose from here says a lot more than just who’s filling the DH spot on Opening Day.
With Eugenio Suárez now off the board, the Pirates’ front office is out of excuses. The waiting game is over. It’s time to make a move - and that move could define not just the roster, but the franchise’s values.
Enter Marcell Ozuna. A proven bat, no doubt.
Even in a down year in 2025, he posted a .756 OPS with 21 home runs - numbers that still play, especially for a team that needs more thump in the lineup. And when you look at his 2023-24 stretch - 79 homers and 7.8 bWAR - it’s clear the guy can still mash.
But when it comes to fit, context is everything.
Ozuna is 35. His glove isn’t just below average - it’s a non-factor.
He’s a full-time DH now, and he’s coming off a season that showed signs of decline. That’s not a knock on his career - it’s just the reality of where he is.
And with a likely price tag in the $14-16 million range, the Pirates would be making a significant financial commitment to a one-dimensional player.
And here’s where it gets complicated - because Andrew McCutchen is still sitting in free agency, waiting for a call that may never come from the team he helped define.
Now let’s be clear: McCutchen isn’t asking for a farewell tour. He’s not looking for a ceremonial roster spot.
He’s been productive. He’s been professional.
He’s taken one-year deals without complaint. He’s embraced the DH role, even while making it known he can still handle the outfield if needed.
He’s adjusted his game, accepted diminished power, and continued to contribute in meaningful ways.
So if the Pirates go out and sign Ozuna instead of bringing back McCutchen, it’s not just a baseball decision - it’s a statement. And not a great one.
It would say: “We’d rather spend more money on an older, declining, single-role player than bring back someone who’s already proven he can do the job - and do it with leadership, consistency, and credibility.”
That’s not optimizing the roster. That’s sidelining value that doesn’t show up in a spreadsheet.
And it’s not just about McCutchen. Signing Ozuna would have ripple effects across the roster.
If he locks down the DH spot most days, that pushes Ryan O’Hearn into more time at first base and in the outfield - which in turn cuts into reps for Jake Mangum and Spencer Horwitz. That’s not a clean fit - it’s a domino effect that clogs the pipeline.
McCutchen, on the other hand, already fits. He knows the role.
He’s handled it with grace. He’s been the steady hand in a young clubhouse trying to find its identity.
Replacing that with Ozuna doesn’t solve a problem - it creates a new one.
And let’s not forget what McCutchen brings beyond the box score. Leadership still matters.
Trust still matters. This is a young team trying to take a step forward, and McCutchen provides something no free agent can replicate: institutional trust.
He bridges the past and the present. He gives the clubhouse a sense of continuity - something the Pirates have lacked during years of resets and rebuilds.
Letting him hang in free agency while pivoting to Ozuna sends a message - not just to McCutchen, but to every player in that room. It says that loyalty is expendable.
That legacy can be replaced. And fans will feel that, too.
Yes, the Pirates need another bat. Yes, they need to be aggressive.
But aggression doesn’t have to mean turning your back on your own identity. There’s a way to move forward without erasing what got you here.
If this offseason ends with McCutchen still unsigned and Ozuna in black and gold, it won’t feel like progress. It’ll feel like the Pirates chose flash over foundation - and in doing so, lost a little bit of who they are.