The 2025 season has been a major disappointment thus far for the Atlanta Braves, but there’s still time to turn things around.
At 26-29, the Braves sit 5 1/2 games out of playoff position entering play on Friday. If that deficit gets much worse, they might have to consider selling off some of their impending free agents at the trade deadline.
June will be a critical month for the Braves, and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return to the everyday lineup could be the shot in the arm that helps them start a hot streak. But the lineup hasn’t clicked the way it was supposed to, and injuries have destabilized a deep pitching staff.
Would the Braves consider trading away one of their top sluggers if things don’t improve? They may have no other choice.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller named Braves star designated hitter Marcell Ozuna as a trade candidate if their season continues to spiral.
Miller listed the Braves on a list of “eight other middling teams who could make things mighty interesting by making some of their impending free agents available to the highest bidders.”
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“Can’t imagine any of them would be selling if the deadline were today, but plenty of time for that pendulum to swing,” Miller wrote.
Ozuna, 34, has been predictably solid this year, posting a .428 on-base percentage and .892 OPS. He leads Major League Baseball with 47 walks, so if his power ticks back up (only nine home runs so far) he could be among the league leaders in total offense.
The five-year, $81 million contract Ozuna signed with the Braves (including his 2025 club option) turned out to be very solid value on the field. They’d rather see his tenure end with a playoff push, though, and a new deal to stay in Atlanta this winter could also be on the table.
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