The Atlanta Braves are staring down a reality they haven’t faced in years – becoming deadline sellers.
Sitting at 32-39, the Braves have been one of baseball’s biggest letdowns this season. They’ve got the talent to make a run, but if they’re still buried by late July, moving pieces becomes the smart play.
Marcell Ozuna would be the crown jewel if Atlanta decides to sell. The three-time All-Star has lost some pop this year while dealing with a hip issue, but he’s more than making up for it at the plate. That .389 on-base percentage and career-high 17.4 percent walk rate tell the story of a hitter who’s found other ways to hurt you.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand put Ozuna on his list of “prime trade candidates” Wednesday, highlighting three teams that make sense as potential destinations.
“The Braves don’t have much of a history of being sellers, but given their current place in the standings – 12 games back in the NL East and seven games out of a Wild Card spot – it wouldn’t be a shock if Atlanta began looking toward 2026,” Feinsand wrote.
Here’s the thing about this trade market – there aren’t many power bats expected to be available. That makes Ozuna more valuable, even as a rental.
Three Teams That Make Sense
The Cleveland Guardians have been searching for a second slugger to pair with José Ramírez all season. But there’s a catch – taking on the rest of Ozuna’s $16 million salary could be a tough sell for Cleveland’s front office.
Texas presents an interesting case. The Rangers have had one of the most disappointing offenses in baseball this year. Ozuna could help, but they’d need to be in a decent spot in the standings to justify buying.
The Detroit Tigers might be the best fit. They’ve got the best record in the American League and could use a veteran presence in what’s mostly a young lineup. Their offense has less thump than some other contenders, and that’s where Ozuna comes in.
What happens with Ozuna will depend entirely on how the Braves play over the next few weeks. If they can’t start climbing back into contention, moving their veteran DH becomes a no-brainer.
It’s not exactly the position Atlanta expected to be in this season, but sometimes the responsible move isn’t the popular one.
