The Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with slugger Marcell Ozuna, pending a physical, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday morning. The club has not confirmed the deal, which includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027 and a $1.5 million buyout, per Feinsand.
Pittsburgh has been active this offseason, acquiring infielder Brandon Lowe in a three-team deal with the Rays, signing veterans Ryan O'Hearn and Gregory Soto and reportedly adding pitcher José Urquidy to a one-year deal
Ozuna, who's entering his age-35 season, saw his production dip in 2025 after consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs and an OPS north of .900.
A year removed from a .302/.378/.546 slash line, 39 homers and a fourth-place finish in the NL MVP vote, the full-time DH finished 2025 with a .232 average, 21 homers, 68 RBIs and a .756 OPS. At least some of the decline can be attributed to a right hip issue that plagued him at times in the first half and likely contributed to his hard-hit rate dropping from 53.4 percent in 2024 to 44.6 percent in 2025.
But even as he struggled to replicate his previous power numbers, Ozuna remained an above-average MLB hitter. He finished with a 113 OPS+, helped greatly by an elite 15.9 percent walk rate that fueled a .355 on-base percentage.
Even after a down 2025, Ozuna has averaged 33 homers and more than 90 RBIs the past three seasons.
Ozuna received a qualifying offer from the Cardinals after the 2019 season, making him ineligible to get one in 2025. Thus, there is no Draft pick compensation attached to him, or penalty for signing him.