The Atlanta Braves entered this season with plenty of promise but it’s trending closer to the possibility that they will be sellers ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Atlanta entered Sunday with a 27-36 record and lost six straight games with a final chance to break the streak in the series finale with the San Francisco Giants.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that the Braves do not plan on selling at the deadline regardless of their record. But if they keep losing, they’ll have to entertain offers including a current slugger that could be changing his address before July 31.
Braves DH Marcell Ozuna Floated Out as Trade Candidate Ahead of MLB Deadline
Nightengale said that while the Braves aren’t planning on selling, they could look to trade designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. The 34-year-old is having a strong season amid Atlanta’s struggles, hitting .262/.403/.438 entering Sunday and with his status as a pending free agent, several teams could be interested in his services at the deadline including the Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.
“No matter where Atlanta is at the trade deadline, the team isn’t expected to be a seller at the deadline with the possible exception of DH Marcell Ozuna, who’s a free agent after the season,” Nightingale wrote. “Atlanta still has a fabulous young nucleus, Cy Young winner Chris Sale back for another season, a healthy Spencer Strider and MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. a year removed from ACL surgery.”
While the Braves have a case that they can rebound in the second half of the season, they may be well-served shopping Ozuna. Ozuna has been an offensive force for Atlanta since joining the team via trade in 2020, hitting .272/.351/.504 with 137 home runs and 370 RBI over six seasons. Ozuna’s .855 OPS since joining the Braves also ranks 18th among hitters with at least 162 games played and would be a shot in the arm for any club.
It’s also going to be a challenge for Atlanta to get back into the postseason race. The Braves are currently nine games behind the Giants for the final Wild Card spot in the National League and are 13 games back of the New York Mets for first place in the NL East Division.
With hopes fading, trading Ozuna could be a way to make the best out of a bad situation and set Atlanta up for future success in 2026.