The Atlanta Braves have a tough decision to make when it comes to what direction the franchise chooses over the next month. However, if June's results were any indication, it is time to consider selling off pieces.
It is important to note that this doesn't mean trading any players you expect to contribute to winning in the 2026 season. The Braves are simply too talented to completely punt on their current core and enter a rebuild. What the team should opt to do is look to add pieces for next season while shedding expiring contracts and struggling players.
Looking at the current roster, veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna fits both of these qualifiers. The veteran is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2025 season and isn't likely to be retained. Considering how well Drake Baldwin has played, there isn't room for both Sean Murphy and Ozuna on this roster. With the latter's contract set to expire, this seems the most natural path the team could take.
With this in mind, it is time to trade a popular piece of Atlanta's offense in an attempt to bring back some value and give Ozuna a chance to contribute to a capable roster.
Braves Should Trade Veteran Slugger Marcell Ozuna
Ozuna's numbers are quickly sliding in the wrong direction, hurting what appeared to be immense trade value for a rental. A big piece of this could be an injury that the veteran has opted to play through in the 2025 season. If the Braves plan to bring Ozuna back, it is time to consider shutting him down if the injury is contributing to the current struggles. If this isn't going to happen, the sooner Atlanta trades away the slugger, the better.
As painful as it might be to face, this is the reality of where the Braves find themselves in the National League standings. It would take an incredible second half to climb out of the basement and back into the wildcard race. While it isn't completely impossible, it is hard to see a clear path to this happening with the team's complete lack of depth.
Even if Jurickson Profar is able to return and have the expected impact, you're still lacking rotation and bullpen stability. All of this adds up to a clear direction the Braves need to take, starting with trading away a player who has been beloved for the past two seasons. Ozuna's contract and Atlanta's current standings simply demand you make the move and give the veteran a chance to help contribute to a postseason roster.