Nov. 23: Ozuna’s decision stemmed from frustration over a lack of early offers received, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Now-former agent Melvin Roman was expecting the Braves to make their first multi-year proposal in December, per Rosenthal, but no team had submitted a formal offer to this point.
If timing was indeed the root of the issue for Ozuna, it’s worth wondering whether his new agents will push for a quick end to his free agency. Ozuna, after all, lingered on the market into late January last year. While we often lose sight of the human elements of free agency, it’s surely a stressful process to wait for offers to pour in while seeing your peers sign contracts. Not knowing where you and your family will be residing during the upcoming season is undoubtedly nerve-wracking. It would be wholly understandable if Ozuna had zero interest in a second consecutive winter of prolonging his decision into the New Year.
Of course, whether that’s the best course of action is debatable. Earlier deals have a tendency to be strong ones for the player, but there’s still some uncertainty as to whether the designated hitter will be in place in the National League next year. That uncertainty will reportedly prompt Nelson Cruz to wait for clarity, and Ozuna’s market would similarly be enhanced by the implementation of a universal DH in 2021.
Nov. 22: Outfielder Marcell Ozuna has changed his representation for his latest trip through the free agent market, as Ozuna is now represented by CAA Sports. The agency announced the news on its Twitter feed.
We’ve already heard of widespread interest in Ozuna in free agency, with the Braves and Mets cited as just two of many teams checking in on the slugger’s services. Naturally, it isn’t any surprise that Ozuna is generating such buzz in the wake of an outstanding season that saw him finish sixth in NL MVP voting. Ozuna hit .338/.431/.636 over 267 plate appearances with the Braves in 2020, topping the National League in home runs (18), RBI (56) and total bases (145).
Though 2020 was a shortened season, Ozuna will head into free agency on the heels of a much better platform year than he did last winter. He posted solid (.241/.328/.472, 29 homers in 549 PA) but not top-tier numbers with the Cardinals in 2019, and also was attached to draft pick compensation after rejecting the Cards’ qualifying offer. Ozuna chose to bet on himself in the form of a one-year, $18MM deal with Atlanta rather than accept other multi-year offers that were on the table — a decision that now looks pretty wise in the wake of his big 2020 campaign. MLBTR projects Ozuna to land a four-year, $72MM contract this offseason, ranking him fourth on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents.
CAA represents enough players on enough teams that is difficult to gauge whether Ozuna’s agency change could hint at his next landing spot. For what it’s worth, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos completed a notable free agent deal with a CAA client just a year ago, when Atlanta inked left-hander Will Smith to a three-year, $40MM pact.
For all more info on player representation, check out MLBTR’s Agency Database for an extensive listing.
He’ll be back with the Braves. If they can afford to overpay Smyly they can afford Ozuna.
I guarantee the Braves are dumb enough to view the Smyly deal as a money saver because they paid Hamels more last year and he’s basically this years Hamels.
They’ll end up spending less, not sign Ozuna, and that’s how they’ll spin the Smyly overpay to the fanbase when people question it.
Yup, that is the Braves way, they will say they need room for their young outfields to play. Could even luck out that Ozuna heads to AL as a DH and blame that reasoning.
They will find someone probably to platoon with Riley most likely to hope hits enough to add partially what Ozuna’s bat won’t.
Even if ( huge if ) Smyly has the year of his life it was still a terrible gamble, but 11 million is relatively low cost.
ur a well known idiot
people finally realizing the Braves are terrible? About time!
I still think Smyly is going to turn out pretty good. Everyone essentially said the same thing about Donaldson and Ozuna yet look how those turned out. I know I’m comparing 2 position players to a pitcher, but the point still stands that the Braves seem to know what they’re doing.
He would be a good pick up for the Mets
Do the Mets need another corner OFr? Ozuna is the last thing they need. They need a catcher, pitching, possibly a CFr… they already have two good hitting corner guys.
It works if the Mets are planning to trade Nimmo (LF). Then Ozuna replaces him in left. But you’re right, where they currently stand, CF, pitching and a catcher are/should be the priorities.
They don’t need catching. Catching would be nice. I’m not saying this bc we have good catchers but teams have won the WS mediocre Catching.. just give this team pitching and a cf who could come in and give them defense and they should be fine. Pitching is the big key to how they do next year
Nido is several improvements away from mediocre. He’s barely playable as a backup and presently there is nobody behind him. They absolutely need a C.
Trading Nimmo and replacing him with Ozuna would be dumb. Just keep Nimmo, sign pitching.
No I agree Nido is the backup up. I meant we don’t need a realmuto or McCann
If they trade Nimmo, I think it depends what you get back before you can say if it’s dumb or not.
If someone has a particular trade in mind, sure, but everything I’m seeing is a general obsession with trading the guy void of specifics. It makes no sense. He’s not blocking anyone, he’s not close to free agency, he gets on base… no reason for him to be trade bait whatsoever. (99% of it is just old school nonsense that values batting average over OBP. Fans stuck in the Stone Age just wanna jettison him, that’s all.)
Granted, this is strictly hypothetical, but if Sandy thinks – or knows – he has a shot at someone like Lindor or Arrenado, chances would be that Nimmo would be apart of the package. So maybe he’s just trying to stay a step ahead. He knows he’ll lose a LF, can’t really trade for one but Ozuna is a pretty good replacement you can purchase. Big picture, something like that, to me, makes sense and is worth it.
Again, strictly hypothetical. What the hell do I know? I’m just a Mets’ fan commenting on an app while sitting on the toilet.
Regardless, let’s be happy the grown ups are finally in charge and our suffering might end sooner rather than later.
Amen brother
MetsFan22
Do you just make up things as you go
“They don’t need catching. Catching would be nice. ”
“No I agree Nido is the backup up. I meant we don’t need a realmuto or McCann”
In the end which of the catchers out there would you choose that is out there then? Wilson Ramos i believe is the 3rd or 4th best out there mainly because i dont think Molina is going anywhere. Are we going to spend 2 20 for ramos again instead of 2 20 for mccann (mlb prediction)?
Young solid catchers or cheap catchers are not going to drop from the heavens. Pitching and defense are the biggest needs and McCann is a solid defensive catcher and was in the top 10 in pitch framing which will help your pitchers. I would prefer Realmuto because i think he can move to another position later on or dh. but the price has to be realistic. I like him 5 around 100 maybe a little over but not much.
Totally agree. Last few years, Mets have shown how valuable having a catcher who frames pitches, can throw runners out, has the trust of the pitching staff and is good defensively is – because they haven’t had that guy. Realmuto checks all those boxes and can hit. Depending on how long the contract offer for him would be (if they offer him one), he’d be perfect. I’d love them to make a run at McCann until this kid Alvarez is ready to get called up. I get Uncle Steve has more money than God but that money you’d save on Realmuto can be spent on other positions of need
Dude idk… there is Catchers out there via trade or sign. I’m not spending on realmuto when we don’t have too. That’s a 30 year Catcher.
Ozuna is a Marginal OF at best (defensively). His glove is just ok…..and that rag arm just won’t play much longer.
He excelled at the plate in 2020 because the NL had “The DH” in 2020. That won’t be an option in 2021.
He’ll probably get a better deal signing in the AL, where he can DH most of the time.
Here are your free agent catchers Metsfan22:
Alex Avila (34)
Drew Butera (37)
Welington Castillo (34)
Jason Castro (34)
Robinson Chirinos (36)
Tyler Flowers (35)
Dustin Garneau (33)
Bryan Holaday (33)
Sandy Leon (32)
Jeff Mathis (38)
James McCann (31)
Yadier Molina (38)
Josh Phegley (33)
Wilson Ramos (33)
J.T. Realmuto (30)
Rene Rivera (37)
Austin Romine (32)
Kurt Suzuki (37)
Matt Wieters (35)
Mike Zunino (30)
Which of those less than 30 yr old catchers are you going to sign? The only catcher under 30 that may be even available is Gary Sanchez and even then it is most likely dependent on Realmuto or McCann going to the yankees. Any other acquisition would likely be an overpay or taking on bad contract in return. So McCann and Realmuto are your only upgrades really from last year. Otherwise you are barely getting a mediocre catcher which is what we have had for years. Also as an fyi Realmuto is the 2nd youngest of the catchers available Zunino is 7 days younger.
I dont mind Realmuto at 5/100 price as i think he will give you 3 or 4 solid/above average years as your primary catcher then he can platoon at 1b as he has some experience there or DH as he should have bat enough to be a worthwhile player. He shores up your defense, framing, and give pitchers confidence in the time frame of degrom’s dominance period and before arb starts getting expensive for Mcneil and others.
I sure hope so..but I doubt it will happen. Is George Springer even an option?! Imagine 3 Center fielders in the outfield plus can give Pache a break when he inevitably struggles at the plate and play Duvall in left
Duvall is notorious for struggling at the plate. When Pache struggles, allow him to continue to see time and adjust on the job, like they’ve patiently done with Albies, Acuña, Swanson…and seen the benefits. At least you’ll have a better glove/arm in Pache, though Duvall is above-average defensively.
Braves won’t want to spend the money on him. They already think their offense is fine without him and defensively he’s a liability if there is no DH in the NL. I get it, you’re a Braves fan, but it’s no slam dunk that he’s back. I’d bet against it if there is no DH
When the Braves signed Ozuna last offseason they hadn’t announced the NL DH yet and they had planned to play him in the OF. That changed with the rule changes. The Braves originally had some level of comfort with playing him in the field, though.
You don’t know any of that.
No way Braves. They’ll add Bryant and keep streak of big named hitters in contract year
This is just another knife being twisted shines really bad on whatever the Cardinals are doing wrong.
Congratulations to Ozuna though. He was MVP caliber again in a shortened season but still cannot argue with his results.
Ozuna is not a good defensive OF…..but he didn’t hit well when he was with the Cards. Several players have shared that same fate. (Cards Fan here….for decades)
There’s an inherent problem somewhere in the organization, and I believe that whoever is in charge of the offensive training team has got to go.
Hitting instructors, equipment managers, executives that are involved………ALL OF THEM.
Why is is that players “leave the Cardinals, then blossom into Stars”…???
“St Louis…..WE HAVE A PROBLEM!”
THAT is why FA’s are reluctant to sign there.
THAT is why the Cards couldn’t lure Stanton, Harper, Rendon.
They will never land Arenado, Lindor, or any big name player…..until they fix whatever is wrong.
Lol. Player isn’t hitting well? According to you the solution is to fire…. The equipment managers! Don’t stop there, fire the bat boys as well.
So you are calling for the resignation of a whole slew of folks you can’t name aye ?
I think the problem or lack there of is cards unwillingness to give players like rendon or Harper the ridiculous contracts they have received. Seemed wise w pujols.
Braves need to jump on this…even if there’s no DH for another year. It’s a step back in momentum and morale if they just let him walk. I don’t think they can strike gold a third year in a row with a one-year signing of a slugger.
Players like Ozuna are not stupid. They want that phone to ring right NOW. That’s why they change representation. They don’t want to play the waiting game like so many agents want them to do each offseason.
Stupid would be taking the first offer you get from your new agent BEFORE it’s even decided if a DH is in play for 2021, significantly increasing your demand. That’d be like prematurely jumping the wall and the ball lands 6′ in front of you.
Something tells me Ozuna’s gonna have a good Christmas one way or another.
RunDMC wouldnt the opposite be true? His demand could significantly drop if it is announced there is no DH knowing he is not that great in the field?
But i agree dont take first offer given. Its the game of back and forths.
I’d guess that most NL teams are probably treating it like there won’t be a DH, so his market would really only go up if there is one. Even if they assume there will be one, they probably won’t take the risk of making a move and then have that blow up in their faces, especially not with a big-ticket player who has next to no other use, like Ozuna. Cruz is in the same boat.
Buck has the right of it. No player wants to be unsigned come spring training and the earlier the better! Once he gets an offer in his range- he’ll be all over it
I think his actions lean toward him being stupid. The beauty of it is he still has a big payday coming, but he might get less with his current actions.
When is the new owner/player agreement going to be finalized? If real baseball as we know it ends and universal DH is adopted (the Horror!) that would make a huge difference in Ozuna’s market value
DH Sucks
Are you talking about the CBA? That expires in Dec 2021. And you might as well get used to the universal DH; it’s likely going to be in the next CBA. The owners want it because it’s more entertaining to see a guy like Cruz or Ozuna bat than guys who are just holes in the lineup. The players want it because these DH’s are often paid fairly well. A lot of fans want it, too, for the same reason the owners want it. The only real issue is that since the owners know the players want it, they owners might expect some concession from the players and that could be a snag. In the end, though, I definitely expect it to be a done deal for the 2022 season.
Of course, the players and owners could agree to it for this year as well. I wouldn’t rule it out, but I don’t think that’s as likely a scenario. I’d guess that baseball is played under 2019 rules more or less for the 2021 season. Hopefully, that includes playoff format.
My guess he heads to America as a DH, just an average fielder, but has pop in his bat
I think there’s a chance he still may sign w the Italian league
Makes sense Bot..
NL is the senior circuit… like signor…. as in monsignor…. which would mean vatican… which brings us to rome… and Rome is in italy…
Yes, makes perfect sense
Phillies prospect Ramon Rosso played in Spain’s Serie! A, or as some call it, the señior circuit.
Come back to the Cardinals for being our DH!!
NL with DH, probably Braves.. NL without DH, definitely gone to AL
his bat is good enough to play him in the field for.
Ozuna firing his agent because the agent wasn’t able to force teams to bring offers to the table early in the offseason of COVID is a bush league move. Add in no agreement yet on a Universal DH and things are going as expected. This was an offseason predicted to move slowly. He’ll get his money, but if he forces offers early in the process and takes one of them, he’ll likely end up leaving money on the table.
Not likely. Nearly all big contracts happen early in the off- season. More so this year than any
Again!!? He just did that yesterday too!
He is not that good
He is the ultimate streaky hitter
Folks expecting him to come anywhere near a 175 OPS+ again (over a full season) are setting themselves up for major disappointment.
That isn’t true at all.
he nearly won a triple crown this year. short year or not that’s a heck of a streak.
Lol
60 game stretch
He is also a d bag
You have a ridiculously high bar set for “good” if you don’t believe Ozuna is good.
No baseball player in the history of the sport has ever said – man, I’m just not a very good fielder so you should prob just sign me to DH. Therefore, any decision of a DH or not in NL- has no impact in the decision making of hiring a new agent
I don’t really know what he expects his new agent to do. He can’t force teams to make offers if they’re all waiting for clarity. The only way to entice them is to lower the price to something the owners are willing to pay even if there are no fans next year. If it really is just to avoid stress for a couple months, it seems like a dumb move. I mean, it’s not like Puig this past year or Keuchel in 2019 waiting and waiting for offers. He had a job lined up before ST. I get that it’s his decision; it just doesn’t seem wise if that’s the whole reason behind it.
This move signals that he is getting anxious and will take a lesser offer than he might have gotten if he had just stayed cool. Good GM’s will recognize this.
Good ball player
Bad business player
He’s headed 2 AL unless back to Braves