Pirates insider attempts to calm fans down about 3B pursuit after Marcell Ozuna signing

After The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome reported over the weekend that the Pittsburgh Pirates were among “at least five teams” discussing a trade for Isaac Paredes with the Houston Astros, the buzz was immediate. Third base has been the glaring hole on Pittsburgh's roster all winter, and Paredes would have been a clean fit — right-handed power, everyday stability, and a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence.

Then came the Marcell Ozuna signing. And just like that, the temperature shifted. Yes, Ozuna adds offense. Yes, it complicates payroll flexibility. But he doesn’t solve the structural issue that has lingered since the Pirates whiffed on Eugenio Suárez just last week.

According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Ozuna deal “probably” takes the Pirates out of the Paredes sweepstakes. A trade is not impossible, mind you, but now highly unlikely. However, Mackey further noted that the Pirates "aren't done" and that they haven't yet closed the book on third base.

Pirates aren't done after Marcell Ozuna signing, still looking to upgrade at third base

Right now, Jared Triolo remains the projected starter at third. Triolo is a plus defender — no one disputes that. But a .221/.303/.334 line over his last 822 plate appearances is not what a playoff-hopeful lineup can carry at a premium offensive position.

If the Pirates truly believe they're entering a contention window with Paul Skenes anchoring the rotation, they cannot wave that away. Paredes would have been the cleanest solution. He hits for power, controls the strike zone, and provides lineup thump from the right side — something Pittsburgh still lacks in consistency.

But trades aren’t made in a vacuum. The Astros’ needs matter. Houston would want MLB-ready value. The Pirates have outfield depth — but is it the right kind? Oneil Cruz isn’t moving. Bryan Reynolds likely costs too much. Jake Mangum and Jack Suwinski don’t obviously solve Houston’s offensive concerns.

And after spending $12 million on Ozuna, the Pirates may have signaled that they’re choosing a different path: incremental improvement rather than asset depletion. That doesn’t mean the pursuit was fake. It means the calculus changed.

However, as the Astros route cools, another avenue quietly lingers. The New York Mets still have infield questions. Mark Vientos and Brett Baty remain intriguing but unsettled pieces.

Neither is a sure thing. Both carry upside. Both would likely cost less prospect capital than Paredes. And most importantly — both are controllable bats who could actually grow with this core rather than serve as a short-term patch.

The Ozuna signing created the optics that the front office chose the “consolation prize” and called it a winter. Mackey’s reporting pushes back on that narrative. It suggests the Pirates understand the stakes. They understand that running Triolo out for 162 games without competition is not a serious approach if they intend to compete.

Whether you believe that depends on your level of scar tissue as a Pirates fan.

Are the Pirates done chasing headlines? Or are they building quietly toward a different kind of solution? Ozuna may have taken them out of the Paredes sweepstakes, but just because they may have abandoned the splash doesn't mean they are abandoning the position.

In the meantime, until the roster locks on Opening Day, third base in Pittsburgh remains very much unsettled — no matter how much anyone tries to lower the volume.