Report: Pirates Exploring Three-Time All-Star Marcell Ozuna as Free Agent Option
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had interest in a number of free agents this offseason and there’s another name that can be added to the list.
The Pirates have explored free agent slugger Marcell Ozuna, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Ozuna’s 2025 season was his sixth with the Braves. He finished the year with a .232/.355/.400 batting line with 19 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 145 games.
Ozuna was named an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2024 and finished fourth in the National League MVP voting after batting .302 with a .925 OPS, 31 doubles, 39 home runs and 104 RBI in 162 games. He also received MVP consideration in 2023 after slugging a career-high 40 home runs and driving in 100 runs.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Ozuna is one of nine players in baseball to hit at least 100 home runs and he ranks eighth in the National League during that span with 272 RBI.
Though he played outfield earlier in his career and won a Gold Glove in 2017, the 35-year-old transitioned to designated hitter starting in 2023.
The Pirates have been trying to improve an offense that finished last in the league in 2025 in runs scored, home runs and OPS. They pursued designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and infielder Jorge Polanco in free agency before they signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, respectively.
In addition to Ozuna, Rosenthal said the Pirates are still exploring several players they’ve been linked to throughout the offseason — Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and free agents Ryan O’Hearn and Kazuma Okamoto.
So far, the only additions the Pirates have made to their roster are outfielder Jhostynxon García (acquired from the Boston Red Sox) and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto (signed to a one-year deal).
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