Ben Cherington doesn't deserve applause for saving Pirates from his own Marcell Ozuna mistake

Generally, celebrating someone losing his job feels cruel. Professional athletes are well compensated, but they are still human beings whose failures unfold publicly. Marcell Ozuna struggled badly, and there is no satisfaction to be found in watching another person struggle.

None of that means Pittsburgh Pirates fans were obligated to embrace his arrival, overlook his past or pretend his continued presence on the roster was defensible.

The Pirates officially released Ozuna on Wednesday to clear room for Ronny Simon, ending a disastrous experiment less than six months after signing him to a one-year, $12 million contract. Ozuna finished his Pittsburgh tenure batting .203 with eight home runs, 29 RBI and a .612 OPS in 70 games.

Moving on was unquestionably the correct decision. It was also the bare minimum.

Ben Cherington should not expect praise for rescuing the Pirates from a problem he created. Cutting Ozuna doesn't erase the decision to sign him, just as cleaning up a spill doesn't deserve a standing ovation when you were the person who knocked over the glass.

Ben Cherington's Marcell Ozuna reversal doesn't erase his original mistake of signing him to Pirates contract

Ozuna always felt like a panic signing. The Pirates pursued bigger offensive targets during the offseason, including Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez, only to watch them sign elsewhere. Instead of accepting that they had missed and finding a better roster fit, they committed $12 million to a 35-year-old designated hitter coming off a declining season.

The baseball concerns were obvious. Ozuna hadn't played a defensive inning since 2023. He could not provide value with his glove or legs. If his bat declined further, there was no secondary skill keeping him useful. And, wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what happened.

The more significant issue, however, went beyond roster construction. Ozuna arrived with serious baggage from his 2021 domestic violence arrest and subsequent 20-game suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The criminal charges were ultimately dropped after he completed a diversion program, but MLB conducted its own investigation and disciplined him.

The Pirates knew signing him would create a credibility and public-relations problem. They did it anyway.

Arguments about Ozuna being a positive clubhouse presence only made the situation harder to stomach. Sports organizations too often use phrases such as “good teammate,” “clubhouse leader” or “well-liked veteran” to sanitize uncomfortable histories. That excuse-making is insulting to domestic violence survivors who repeatedly watch talent and popularity treated as evidence of character.

Cherington eventually stopped allowing the $12 million guarantee to dictate the roster decision. Fine. The money was a sunk cost, and releasing Ozuna gives Simon — who earned his promotion by hitting .330 with an .889 OPS and 33 stolen bases in Triple-A — a deserved opportunity.

But Cherington shouldn't receive credit for finally acknowledging what had become undeniable. Ozuna never should have been signed. The fit never made sense. The reputational cost was obvious. The warning signs were there from the beginning.

Releasing him corrects the roster. It doesn't absolve the general manager who put him there.

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