2025 Stats: .257/.397/.430, 10 HR, 28 RBI
Contract: $16M, Free Agent this winter
After an impressive seven-year run of postseason appearances, Atlanta has hit a recently unfamiliar low point, sitting 10 games below .500 for the first time since the end of 2017.
And that means for the first time in a long time, the Braves might be sellers at the trade deadline.
If that’s the case, the bidding war for Marcell Ozuna’s services might be the story of the summer.
Since the beginning of 2023, Ozuna has put up numbers (.284/.369/.533, 89 HR, 232 RBI) that stack right up there with those of Juan Soto (.275/.410/.526, 87 HR, 249 RBI). Only six players have hit more homers than Ozuna during that time, and he has suddenly mastered the art of drawing walks, on pace to demolish his previous career best for free passes in a season.
Because Ozuna is exclusively a DH at this point in his career, it wouldn’t make any sense for the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees or Red Sox to get into the mix here, already possessing quality full-time DHs of their own. Can’t imagine Atlanta would dream of helping out the Mets, either.
But could the 34-year-old be the answer to Texas’ poor-hitting woes?
Or might a reunion with St. Louis be in the cards?
Maybe the Padres bring him in and make Gavin Sheets the full-time left fielder?
Even without what are the usual suspects any time the words “bidding war” pop up, there would be no shortage of interested parties if Atlanta continues to crash and burn.
