Pirates predicted to target this year’s ‘Eugenio Suarez’ at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It’s safe to say that the Marcell Ozuna experiment has not panned out thus far for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With just two home runs and a .467 OPS, Ozuna may slowly be entering DFA territory. Although the Pirates gave him a $12 million contract and could hope he starts to heat up as the weather changes.
Last season, the Pirates’ offense was what held them back. Simply, they lacked the run production Paul Skenes and the pitching staff needed.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicted Thursday that the NL Central club will be in the market for an impact bat at the trade deadline.
“And if Ozuna’s bat never wakes up, Pittsburgh will be in the market for whoever ends up playing this year’s role of 2025 Eugenio Suárez as top slugger available,” Miller wrote. “Colorado’s Mickey Moniak and Angels DH Jorge Soler are early candidates.”
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Soler is an interesting option for the Pirates. Similar to Ozuna, he reaches free agency at the end of the year and provides power in the middle of the order. Both players strike out a ton, but Soler is also a former World Series MVP.
Several teams, including the Pirates, were rumored to have interest in Suarez before the Arizona Diamondbacks traded him to the Seattle Mariners.
Who this year’s version of Suarez will be is not exactly clear as of today. But if the Pirates are in contention, you can bet they’ll be in the mix.