Esmerlyn Valdez Makes Pirates' Marcell Ozuna Expendable

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates salvaged their trip north of the border, winning the final game of their series against the Toronto Blue Jays. As has been the case recently, the offense came alive, propelling the team to victory.

The victory brought the Pirates to a 27-26 record, good for last place in the NL Central. It's a crowded division, and the Buccos are battling to keep pace. As the team keeps battling, finding consistency on offense is key. The team has produced at least four runs in four of their last six games, mostly off home runs, and they received another recent boost with the promotion of outfielder and power-hitter Esmerlyn Valdez.

The 22-year-old right-handed batter popped an opposite-field home run for his first MLB hit. It was a quick demonstration of the offensive upside Valdez brings to the Pirates, and it also signifies another major development. With Valdez's arrival, it could mark the end of Marcell Ozuna's time in Pittsburgh.

Why Ozuna is Now Expendable to Pirates

When the Pirates signed the veteran Ozuna, they believed they were adding a threat to the lineup that they would never have to worry about. It was a sort of "set it and forget it" acquisition.

But Ozuna's first season in Pittsburgh has been marked by inconsistency and underachievement relative to expectations. In 159 at-bats, the slugger holds a batting average of .189, with an OPS of .594, a .314 slugging percentage, and a .279 on-base percentage.

The five home runs and 20 runs batted in are below expectations as well. Despite his veteran leadership and manager Don Kelly continuing to deploy him, Ozuna has failed to be the impact bat he was signed to be.

In the middle of a tight race for the NL Central, the Pirates can't afford to keep letting players figure things out. It's one thing when a young player is working through a difficult slump. When a veteran of over 1,600 MLB games continues to struggle, the leash canot be extended any further.