The Atlanta Braves are not having a good season in 2025. Picked by most to reach the postseason for the eighth consecutive year, Atlanta has gotten off to a slow start.
They are 27-33 and sit in fourth place in the National League East, 11 games behind the first place New York Mets. If they cannot improve and get back into the race, they may be sellers at the trade deadline.
This is something Atlanta hasn’t had to do since 2017, the last time they finished under .500. But they have a few pieces that could be of use to contenders.
Of them is designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Chad Jennings of The Athletic believes that the veteran slugger could shape this year’s trade deadline.
“Two months into the season, they’re still a sub-.500 team with a 50-50 shot of making the playoffs,” Jennings wrote.
“Ozuna, meanwhile, is approaching free agency while posting typically excellent offensive numbers, though he recently revealed he is playing through a hip injury. What if this Braves run to relevance never materializes? Wouldn’t Ozuna have to be on the trade block?”
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Ozuna is hitting .274/.418/.457 with 10 home runs, 25 RBI and an .875 OPS. In the final year of his contract, it’s always possible that a team could overpay for him and give the Braves a big return package.
This could still set the Braves up well for 2026 and beyond and allow them to return to contention as soon as possible.
Ozuna is a three-time All-Star, former Gold Glove winner and two-time Silver Slugger.
With the way he is hitting, several contenders will be showing interest, though his hip injury could be a bit of a turnoff.
If Atlanta fights their way back into contention, however, it’s unlikely Ozuna will be traded.
Everything depends on if the Braves can turn around their season.
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