Pirates $12 million slugger needs to break out soon to avoid fun replacement options

Pirates $12 million slugger needs to break out soon to avoid fun replacement options originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are having an impressive season so far, and while they might be in fourth place in the NL Central, their 23-20 record is only four games back of the division lead, and they're just 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.

There's plenty of reason to be optimistic about this Pirates team, and it goes well beyond Paul Skenes and top prospect Konnor Griffin. The offseason pickups of Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn have worked out great. But a different signing has been terrible.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report highlighted $12 million free-agent signing Marcell Ozuna as one of the players the Pirates need to break out ASAP this season, and for good reason.

"Ozuna was supposed to be the final piece of Pittsburgh's puzzle; the $12M cherry on the offseason sundae, signed in mid-February to provide some serious pop from the DH spot," Miller writes. "Instead, the 35-year-old is putting up career-worst numbers in each of AVG, OBP, and SLG while also striking out at the highest rate (25.5 percent) since 2014."

If Ozuna cannot break out from such a poor start soon, then the Pirates might have to turn to a few replacement options. And unfortunately for Ozuna, those replacement options are some very fun ones.

Pirates might have to turn to fun replacements for Ozuna

The Pirates could replace Ozuna with so many different avenues, but there are two potential ways they could do so that stick out as realistic and fun options.

One potential replacement for the DH spot in Pittsburgh is outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, the 23-year-old outfielder the Pirates got from the Boston Red Sox this offseason.

He's been playing fairly well in the minors, posting a .253 average with six homers and a .781 OPS in 87 at-bats this season. Garcia would be a fun prospect call-up, as he could fill right in for Ozuna at DH as a right-handed hitting power bat.

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

But the other replacement might be more exciting, and that would be a trade for a new DH. Pittsburgh needs more offensive firepower, and if they are worried about their prospects making an impact at the MLB level, why not trade for a new slugger?

Both of these potential replacement options for Ozuna are exciting, but the Pirates are more likely to wait for a while longer to determine if they truly need to find an Ozuna replacement.

Ideally, Ozuna would turn his season around and let the Pirates explore other areas of need. But, if he continues to struggle, a fun trade for a new slugger or a call-up of Garcia could be in the cards for the Pirates as they try to return to the postseason this year.