Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna is one of the team’s most obvious trade candidates. He’s a 34-year-old impending free agent on an Atlanta club that is 12 games under .500 and plans to listen on rental veterans between now and the July 31 deadline. Ozuna has been mired in a dreadful slump, hitting just .165/.257/.271 over his past 153 trips to the plate. Ozuna is still hitting .235/.361/.390 on the season overall, good for a 115 wRC+, but he’s not doing his best work at the plate of late.
That’s led to the Braves shuffling up the lineup at the cost of Ozuna’s playing time. Atlanta started both Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy — one at catcher, the other at DH — twice in their first series of the season’s unofficial second half. Manager Brian Snitker made clear to the team’s beat that said arrangement will be more frequent down the stretch (link via Mark Bowman of MLB.com).
Ozuna will still get starts but likely in more selective matchups. He started Sunday’s game against Marcus Stroman because he’d faced Stroman before (Murphy had not) and homered against him. Snitker noted that, “If [Ozuna] is going to be here, he’s not going to rot [on the bench].”
Still, it’s a clear indication that Ozuna’s days as a regular player in Atlanta have largely dried up. That fact is only reinforced by this morning’s move to designate outfielder Stuart Fairchild for assignment to get veteran catcher Sandy Leon onto the big league roster as a third catcher. Leon presumably won’t play much, but rostering him offers protection against a scenario where Baldwin or Murphy suffers an injury on a day when both have started.
Ozuna maintained an upbeat mentality, telling the Braves beat that he’ll just “[stay] positive and ready for when they give me the opportunity” (link via The Athletic’s David O’Brien). He noted that he works for the Braves and accepts any decisions they make, which are out of his control. He offered a similar outlook on any potential trades, stating that “my agent and [president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos], that’s what they’re working on.”
It’s a notable comment for multiple reasons. First and foremost, that seems to indicate that Ozuna is aware some trade talks have taken place. That’s been widely assumed anyhow, but Ozuna’s comments offer some additional support for that thinking. Secondly, Ozuna made no mention of invoking his no-trade protection even when asked whether he wanted to remain in Atlanta long-term. The veteran slugger has more than 10 years of service, including the past five with the same team, which gives him full veto power over any trade scenario. If Ozuna plans to be selective in his destination, he’s not tipping his hand. Given that he’s been effectively relegated to a bench role on a non-contending club, perhaps he’d welcome any opportunity that brought more playing time and greater chances of returning to postseason play.
Ozuna and closer Raisel Iglesias — both impending free agents — are viewed as Atlanta’s likeliest players to change hands. Reliever Rafael Montero is also a free agent at season’s end and could move. The Braves have a 2026 club option on righty Pierce Johnson and have reportedly been closed off to dealing players with club control beyond the current season, but USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the Braves have let other clubs know Johnson is available as well.
Johnson, 34, is a notable addition to the summer bullpen market. He’s making $7MM this year and has a club option for 2026 that’s valued at the same amount. It comes with a $250K buyout. That’s an eminently reasonable price for the right-hander, who’s in the midst of a career-best season on the mound.
In 35 2/3 innings, Johnson has pitched to a 2.78 earned run average while punching out 27.9% of opponents. He’s also sporting a career-low 7.1% walk rate. He’s been lights-out lately, boasting a 1.80 ERA with a 16-to-5 K/BB ratio in 15 innings since the calendar flipped to June. Johnson has picked up eight holds and a save on the season. There’s still about $2.6MM of this year’s guaranteed salary left, plus that $250K buyout. Of course, if he continues pitching at this level, then a net $6.75MM option for the right-hander will be a fairly straightforward call to exercise.
Pierce Johnson back to the Padres would be a great move by AJ.
It would but my guess is it’s a bit more money then they will add to the pen.
Braves could probably eat money but it will make the Padres have to give up a better return
I’m really curious about how they handle the money aspect of this deadline. I wonder if they’ll try to trade away someone like Yuki Matsui to free up money for an addition, but his contract situation complicates that since he’s signed through 28 with an opt out after 26. Similar with Wandy Peralta, it’s a weird contract to move with his player options.
Anyone trading for this jerk deserves to fail and fail hard. Lots of good players out there, don’t need an abuser.
U are seriously a misinformed idiot! Stfu
He’s formerly posted as blackpink. One of the worst on the site—–maybe THE worst.
What a dreadful roster ATL has.
Don’t know much about baseball I see
Clown comment. Braves roster mostly sucks and they have no depth.
@Boston – right, no depth, but it’s much of the same roster that rewrote offensive record books in ’23, save for Dansby/Eddie Rosario.
@DMC: I agree w/your comment, but Dansby was a Cub in ’23.
“Dreadful roster”…You don’t think much of the media “talking heads” baseball hacks do you?
Last year, they were calling the Braves the “greatest offensive team in history”. I believe that was just last year, although it could have been the year before.
2 years ago
The product of too much bargain Bottom of the barrel shopping! Only blame should fall on AA!
Get all you can for Johnson – too much in love with his curve ball.
The Braves are gearing up for the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.
I hate to see them get all geared up only
to run out of gas in the 1st inning!
braves already projected for $232 Million before additions next year. need to rebuild!
@mush: Not accurate mushy. You can find their payroll projections @Spotrac or Cott’s Contracts. As of now, the projected 2026 payroll number is $193.5 million. Probably going to be a smaller number after the trade deadline when the pen is dealt off. Bummer ($9.5 M) and Johnson ($7 M) will reduce that number to $177 M if their entire contracts can be dealt. That will be the starting point (including raises due current under contract players) before additions—unless other under control players are also dealt.
You’re not accounting for projected arbitration and pre-arb players
$186 Mil + arbs + pre arbs ($46.08)
In my opinion, Braves need to trade Ozuna, RI, Bummer, and montero… there really is no excuse for not trading at least each of the 3 that are on expiring contracts. And bummer is paid too much next season for how the Braves continue to use him. He’s a left on left weapon and someone will pay for that this deadline. No reason to keep him if we aren’t gonna use him correctly. He’s more than a low leverage pitcher despite how people irrationally feel about him. The rest you have to trade and hope to god you are able to get a decent prospect or two out of it.eat all the cash (assuming we stay under the lux tax) and take whatever projectable prospect you can. Anything to get this farm higher in the middle of the pack. Also, id dangle Ozzie and Murphy. Someone will wildly overpaid for Murphy… now I don’t see a mid season trade because it’s tough to learn a pitching staff but who knows. Ozzie is cooked.. we should just rid of him. Somehow will over pay for him simply because of what he has accomplished and has a cheap contract. I try think nacho is ready and can handle 2nd base
Ozzie, Harris, Most of the bullpen, Ozuna, Murphy…