Braves Encouraged to Unload Two Former All-Stars

The Atlanta Braves’ season certainly has not gone the way that most people expected it to.

Atlanta has made the postseason each season since 2018, and it was expected to be right in the thick of things again this year.

However, that has not been the case, and the Braves hold one of the worst records in the National League.

Because of the poor performance this season, Atlanta will most likely be sellers at the trade deadline and it has several candidates that will most likely be sent away.

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has encouraged the Braves to move both designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and closer Rasiel Iglesias.

“It’s unlikely they’ll unload anyone under team control into 2026, but impending free agents Ozuna and Iglesias will likely be on the move,” Miller wrote.

Ozuna has dealt with some lingering injuries this season, which could be the reason for his .235 average and just 13 home runs this season. Ozuna has slugged 20-plus homers eight times in his career, and he is struggling to get there this season.

He is in the last season of a four-year contract and is fully expected to be on the move and on a different team when the calendar flips to August, especially consideringthe Braves’ latest roster move on Monday.

This signals three things by my estimation. The Braves are not trading Sean Murphy. They’re very interested in seeing lineups consistently with both Murphy/Baldwin. And Marcell Ozuna’s time in Atlanta is likely coming to an end https://t.co/H6VHQT3znZ

— Brady Penn (@bradypenn21) July 21, 2025

Iglesias has been a mainstay in Atlanta’s closer role for the last several seasons, but much like Ozuna this season has been his worst in quite some time.

After posting a 1.95 ERA last season, Iglesias has posted a 5.12 ERA this season in 38 2/3 innings. He combined for just six losses on the mound over the last two seasons and he already has six this season.

He has, though, been much better of late. He did allow four runs on Saturday, but those were the first runs he’d allowed since June 5. That’s just two of his last 17 appearances that he’s allowed runs.

Much like Ozuna, it is very likely that Iglesias will be traded, and he could be an extremely important bullpen piece for a number of playoff hopeful teams.

That inning snapped a 15 appearance scoreless streak for Raisel Iglesias – 6 H, 1 BB, 18 K in 13.2 IP – before tonight’s implosion. https://t.co/GkWct1cgGi

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) July 20, 2025