CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 19: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 19, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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For veteran players, the trade deadline often represents a final opportunity to join a contender or solidify a role before the stretch run. But for others, the days immediately after the deadline can bring difficult roster decisions as teams reassess where they stand.
That proved to be the case for a former Atlanta Braves star whose decorated resume wasn’t enough to overcome a difficult first season with a new club. Very shortly after the deadline passed, his latest opportunity came to an abrupt end.
Atlanta Braves’ Former Star Slugger Cut From NL Team Amid Brutal Season
According to multiple reports on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates have officially moved on from former Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna after a disappointing campaign.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have released struggling designated hitter Marcell Ozuna,” ESPN reported. “Ozuna, who signed a one-year, $12 million deal prior to the season that included a mutual option for 2027, never provided the offensive punch that the Pirates had hoped for, hitting just .203 with 8 home runs, 29 RBIs and a .613 OPS in 70 games.”
The move marks a disappointing ending for a player who entered the season hoping to revive his value after spending six years with Atlanta as one of the National League’s most productive sluggers. Instead, the Pirates opted to cut ties shortly after the trade deadline rather than continue waiting for his bat to rebound. In retrospect, it seems Ozuna was given ample opportunity to produce at the plate with the Pirates before the cut.
“Signed to a one-year, $12MM deal after the Pirates missed out on other targets (e.g. Kyle Schwarber), Ozuna never found his stride in Pittsburgh,” Steve Adams wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “It’s frankly a bit surprising that the leash for him was even this long.”
Marcell Ozuna Hits New Low After Atlanta Braves Run Ends
While Ozuna’s tenure in Pittsburgh was brief, his years with the Braves will be remembered by fans in Atlanta.
“Ozuna signed with the Braves as a free agent in 2020 on a one-year deal, posted a career-high 1.067 OPS, then re-signed with Atlanta in 2021 for four years and $65 million and a club option for 2025,” ESPN noted. “He has had a decorated career, with three All-Star appearances, two Silver Sluggers and one Gold Glove, and he received votes four times for National League MVP, peaking with a fourth-place finish in 2024.”
Those accomplishments made Ozuna one of the National League’s most productive designated hitters during his peak with Atlanta, which made his struggles in Pittsburgh even more surprising. The Pirates signed him expecting a middle-of-the-order presence after missing on several other offensive targets, but the production never materialized.
Now a free agent, the 35-year-old will have the opportunity to sign with another organization if a club believes there’s still enough power left in his bat to help during the final weeks of the season. Whether another contender takes that chance remains one of the more intriguing veteran storylines to watch after the trade deadline.
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