Braves Urged to Re-Sign, Not Trade $65 Million Pending Free Agent

Braves Urged to Re-Sign, Not Trade $65 Million Pending Free Agent

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly has argued that the Atlanta Braves should look to re-sign designated hitter Marcell Ozuna rather than trade him ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

As the Braves approach the deadline, they continue to receive mixed opinions from analysts about whether they should be buyers or sellers. On Friday, Kelly predicted that the team would not make any major moves, with Ozuna being one potential exception due to his pending free agency.

However, Kelly also proposed an idea that hasn’t been widely considered—could Atlanta choose to keep Ozuna and re-sign him instead of trading him?

“Could the Braves trade Marcell Ozuna, who is 34 and in a contract year, if things don’t turn around? Perhaps, and there would definitely be interest from DH-needy contenders,” Kelly wrote. “But with a .904 OPS since the start of 2023, it seems more likely the Braves would want to re-sign him after the season.”

This idea of re-signing Ozuna hasn’t gained much traction in Atlanta, where the prevailing assumption has been that 2025 would be his last year with the team.

There are several reasons for this assumption. Ozuna will turn 35 in November, and although he remains a strong hitter, the Braves may be reluctant to offer him another long-term deal worth significant money as he ages into his late 30s.

Ozuna’s current deal is a four-year, $65 million contract, and based on his performance over the past two seasons, he’s likely due for a raise in free agency. A four-year deal worth $85 million could be on the table, meaning he’d be paid over $20 million annually until he’s almost 39—though Ozuna could potentially command even more on the open market.

Ozuna finished fourth in NL MVP voting last season and has posted an .822 OPS this year, with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 32 runs scored.

Trading Ozuna would also open up the designated hitter spot, which could help manager Brian Snitker find more at-bats for the team’s two catchers, Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy. Sharing DH duties could ease the juggling act with the two behind the plate.

While re-signing Ozuna could be a tough decision for Atlanta, parting with him via trade might be even harder. The Braves witnessed his immediate impact on Friday night when his three-run homer in the seventh inning gave them their first lead against the Colorado Rockies. Atlanta went on to win 12-4, marking their third victory in the last four games.

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Braves’ decision regarding Ozuna could become one of the most closely watched storylines in Atlanta.