Pirates to release Marcell Ozuna, promote Ronny Simon for roster spot, AP source says

The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to release veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna as they prepare for a playoff run, according to a source cited by the Associated Press. The 35-year-old Ozuna, who signed a one-year deal worth $12 million with the Pirates in February, failed to find his form during his brief stint with the team.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the decision was made after a difficult period for Ozuna, who struggled to get on track. The Pirates, currently 3 1/2 games behind Arizona for the third wild-card spot in the National League, plan to promote outfielder Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Ozuna's roster spot.

Ozuna's performance with the Pirates was disappointing, as he hit just .203 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 70 games. He had fallen out of favor even before joining Pittsburgh, having seen his playing opportunities diminish in recent weeks following the emergence of rookie Esmerlyn Valdez. The team's decision to release Ozuna comes amid a trade deadline acquisition of reliever Luke Weaver from the New York Mets, aimed at bolstering their bullpen.

Despite manager Don Kelly and general manager Ben Cherington's repeated defense of Ozuna, citing strong underlying metrics and his influence on the club's Latin players, the Pirates opted to move on in a bid to secure meaningful baseball into September.