The Pirates added some thump to their lineup yesterday, signing slugging designated hitter/outfielder Marcell Ozuna (whose nickname is “Big Bear”), to a one-year deal with a mutual option for a second year.
Ozuna is 35 years old and a three-time All-Star. He’s hit 296 home runs with 948 RBIs in 13 seasons with the Marlins, Cardinals, and Braves. Two years ago, he hit .302 with 39 homers and 104 RBIs. Last year, he slumped to .232 with 21 round-trippers and 68 runs driven in. He’s also a former Gold Glove winner.
Ozuna’s contract has a base salary of $10.5 million with a $16 million option next year and a $1.5 million buyout.
What’s left unsaid with the signing is that it probably means the end of Andrew McCutchen’s time with the Pirates. Yesterday, he removed a photo of himself in a Pirates jersey from his social media pages.
