The Atlanta Braves have not had the season that they hoped for, and MLB.com Insider Mark Feinsand has their designated hitter, Marcell Ozuna, as the best available at the trade deadline.
Ozuna was once perceived to be an MVP-type candidate type of player. Those days have since passed him by, and he is now 34 years old and headed for free agency in the winter is now on the trade block.
Ozuna still possesses the power to change the momentum of a game at any moment, and with a market low on power hitters, the Braves could trade his services for a premium. Ozuna has hit 13 home runs this season, which is significantly down from his 39 last season and 40 in 2023.
While Feinsand labels his buzz as medium, there are a lot of positives to the Braves moving on from the slugger. They would open the door for Drake Baldwin to garner more playing time as the designated hitter when he isn’t catching, ditto for Sean Murphy. Along with allowing their catching duo to stay in the lineup, the Braves would be able to gain a couple of prospects that could help replenish their farm system.
With the Braves unlikely to bring the slugger back into the fold next season, trading him might be their best option. If they are truly setting their eyes on next season and calling this one a lost cause, then there is no harm in sending Ozuna off to compete as the team prepares for a rebound next year.
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