The Pittsburgh Pirates have opened the 2026 season with a solid 19-16 record, yet find themselves in an unfamiliar spot: last place in the National League Central. It's a testament to the division's strength rather than any fault of their own. Every team in the Central has at least 18 wins, with three already surpassing 20. For now, the Pirates can only tip their caps and hope their consistent play eventually forces rivals to stumble.

Several factors explain Pittsburgh's improved performance: a youthful roster, a promising pitching staff, and some savvy offseason moves. The front office finally invested in impact bats during the winter, and many of those additions are paying off. But not all of them.

The decision that continues to haunt the Pirates is their handling of franchise legend Andrew McCutchen. They parted ways with McCutchen—one of the greatest players in team history—and signed designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. It's a move that was recently labeled the worst exchange of the offseason.

Ozuna's start has been nothing short of brutal. He's hitting just .185 with a .560 OPS, a far cry from the 39-home run season he posted in 2024 or the 40 he launched in 2023. Meanwhile, McCutchen isn't exactly thriving with the Texas Rangers, batting .195 with one homer, five RBI, and a .562 OPS. But as USA Today's Bob Nightengale pointed out, McCutchen was beloved in Pittsburgh. He wouldn't have been booed every time he stepped to the plate.

Hindsight is 20/20, but it's worth remembering why the Pirates made the switch. Ozuna's power numbers were undeniable—40 homers in 2023, 39 in 2024. The front office bet on that production returning. So far, it hasn't. McCutchen may be a legend, and no one disputes that, but the Pirates took a calculated risk. It just hasn't worked out—yet.