Braves’ brutal weekend just punched one star’s ticket out of Atlanta
Just under two weeks ago, it seemed like the Atlanta Braves had completely revamped their season. They swept the New York Mets, launching into a stretch of over two weeks of games against NL East rivals, which presented a golden opportunity to get back into the race for the division title.
However, things took a turn for the worse when they lost Chris Sale for an uncertain period, dropped a series to the struggling Miami Marlins, managed only a split against the faltering Mets, and lost a home series to the Philadelphia Phillies. This recent downturn in performance suggests that Marcell Ozuna’s time with the team may be coming to an end.
The Braves had a prime chance to turn the tide. While their season began poorly, it’s undeniable that they have a highly talented roster. Instead of capitalizing on that potential, they not only lost their ace but also went 4-6 against their NL East competition. Currently, Atlanta stands at 38-45, sitting 10.5 games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East and 8 games out of the third Wild Card spot in the National League.
Given the current situation, the playoffs seem increasingly out of reach, making it likely that the Braves will become sellers as the trade deadline approaches. While I’m not suggesting they should completely dismantle the team, trading a veteran on an expiring contract like Ozuna, whom they probably won’t re-sign for next season, seems like a logical move.
Braves must accept their trade deadline fate
It genuinely seemed like this 10-game stretch was Atlanta’s final opportunity to make a significant statement and show they’re a team worth believing in. Unfortunately, it couldn’t have gone worse, especially with the injury to Sale and their below-.500 performance.
Ultimately, it’s challenging to have faith in this team at the moment. While there are some standout players, like Ronald Acuña Jr. and the rise of Spencer Schwellenbach, the lineup features perhaps only three dependable hitters, their rotation is stretched thin following Sale’s injury, and the bullpen has been inconsistent all season.
With their current standing, the Braves are too far behind to be considered serious contenders in the NL East, even with the Mets and Phillies struggling. The National League is also too competitive for Atlanta to be viewed as Wild Card hopefuls. In fact, this team is closer to the bottom of the NL East than they are to overtaking any of the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings.
Trading Marcell Ozuna will help more than it’ll hurt
Trading someone like Ozuna might have short-term drawbacks, but he hasn’t been having a standout season anyway. Considering the injury he’s dealing with, it’s uncertain if he’ll ever fully find his rhythm at the plate. In June, he posted a 57 WRC+, ranking 174th out of 187 qualified position players, which has been quite poor.
Additionally, as noted earlier, Ozuna is on an expiring contract. At 34 years old and no longer playing in the field, the likelihood of Atlanta offering him the lucrative deal he’s likely to seek this offseason is low. Moving a player who probably won’t return when the postseason seems out of reach makes a lot of sense.
The Braves could create designated hitter opportunities for one of their two power-hitting catchers (Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin) and might acquire a player or two who can contribute in 2026 or later, when their chances of competing may be stronger. Although it’s never easy to trade a veteran midseason, Sunday’s loss should clarify Alex Anthopoulos’ plans as the trade deadline approaches. It’s time to move on.
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