2 Pirates players no longer worth defending

Despite a recent cold streak, times are still fairly good in the Steel City. The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped out to one of the most surprising starts in baseball, and roughly 50 games into the season, the Bucs are top 10 in batting average, on-base percentage, and runs, a far cry from the offense that finished last in the NL in many offensive categories in 2025.

Still, two of Pittsburgh’s biggest offseason acquisitions have failed to produce. It’s time for the Pirates to seriously reconsider what to do with Marcell Ozuna and Jake Mangum.

Pirates are already regretting two offseason moves, and it's only May

When the Pirates struck out in the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes, few saw the next slugger on the wishlist. Ozuna had many critics when he joined Pittsburgh. He was coming off his worst full season (from a slugging perspective) since 2015, and the Pirates needed him to produce. Unfortunately, 2026 has been more of the same from Ozuna. Entering play on May 20, he has a mere five homers and a career-worst .579 OPS.

Of greater consequence, though, may be the failings of Mangum. Ozuna has the luxury of playing DH, a position that essentially anyone could step into. (Of course, that’s not to say that everyone who can hit as a position player does just as well at DH, but everyone in the lineup at least has the requisite skills at a certain level.) Center field, though, is much more difficult. Just ask Oneil Cruz.

Mangum had a plus-6 run value in center last season, surely one of the reasons why the Pirates included him in the Brandon Lowe trade in December. His elite speed helps him cover ground (and his teammates) at all three outfield positions. Unfortunately, Mangum has only recently returned from a hamstring injury. It’s a bit unfair, then, to judge his early-season fielding performance.

Mangum, though, is almost entirely a baserunning and fielding guy, so if he can’t produce in those areas for any reason, including injury, then he isn’t earning his keep in the lineup, despite being a fan favorite. Playing mostly in left field, Mangum has cost the Pirates 2 outs above average (OAA) thus far in 2026. At the plate, his strikeout rate has climbed to 22.4%, and he has an average exit velocity of a mere 82.5 mph.

It’s still early, but the signing of Ozuna and the trade for Mangum are no longer worth defending. If their miserable performances continue, the players themselves may no longer be worth defending, either.

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