Pirates $12 million signing is already their 'biggest regret' after .065 start

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Pirates $12 million signing is already their 'biggest regret' after .065 start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This past offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a lot of moves to turn the 2062 season into one that the fans can get excited for. And so far, things have gone incredibly well.

They're 7-5, one win behind first in the division, and have won six of their last eight games. Offseason additions of Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe have looked great, while Konnor Griffin was called up and got a big extension worth $140 million.

But, despite the good vibes, there is one move that the Pirates already regret making. As Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly pointed out, the Pirates $12 million signing of Marcell Ozuna is a move that's gone terribly so far amid his .065 average to begin the season.

Pirates already might regret Marcell Ozuna's signing​

"Pittsburgh Pirates: Signing Marcell Ozuna," Kelly writes. "The early returns on the one-year, $12 million signing of Marcell Ozuna by the Pirates are ugly, as he's hitting under .100 at the time of publication."

The Pirates slugger isn't just hitting poorly; his .065 batting average through 31 at-bats to begin the season has led to a hard-to-believe -30 OPS+ to go with his .236 OPS.

Ozuna has just two hits in 31 at-bats to go with one run scored, zero RBIs, four walks, and eight strikeouts.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Ozuna isn't even giving the Pirates any good defense or baserunning. He's a slow designated hitter who is struggling to hit.

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

If he weren't being paid $12 million, the Pirates likely would've benched him or moved on from him entirely at this point in the season.

But their big investment in Ozuna is something that they can't move on from just yet. They have to give it a try despite how terrible he's been to begin the season.

And to make matters worse, Andrew McCutchen for the Texas Rangers, who wanted to come back, would've been a much better signing, as he has a .333 average with one homer and four RBIs in 18 at-bats this season.

While there is a lot to like about this Pirates team, and plenty to be excited about, the Ozuna singing has been a complete disaster, and one that the Pirates surely regret already this season.

More MLB news:​

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• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
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• Marlins suggested to sign Max Kepler after Phillies’ OF was suspended for 80 games
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• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

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