The Atlanta Braves’ season has not lived up to expectations. The team is a long shot to make the postseason, and could trade some pending free agents in the coming week.
The Braves are not going to trade their star players like Ronald Acuña Jr. or Austin Riley. However, the team could cut ties with Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna is in the final year of his contract and has not had his best season. Brian Snitker has already mentioned that his playing time will be reduced.
He is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger. He is a full-time designated hitter, and ESPN’s David Schoenfield predicted the Braves would trade him to the San Diego Padres.
“His $16 million salary — or about $5.4 million over the final two months — might be a little steep for the Padres, but we know that general manager A.J. Preller will do something,” wrote Schoenfield. “He always does. Ozuna’s power numbers are down this season, plus he has been terrible the past two months, so there is some risk here, but he had an OBP over .400 in April and May.”
There may not be too many suitors for Ozuna, as he could only really be an asset to a team without a regular designated hitter. The Padres are in the bottom third of the National League in runs scored and could use a regular DH.
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Ozuna has a .749 OPS and 13 home runs this year. He could be a step in the right direction for the Padres’ offense, and perhaps a change of scenery could get him back to swinging a hot bat.
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