The Atlanta Braves are suddenly in a rough spot with designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.
Originally, the Braves were hoping not to sell at the trade deadline, but the silver lining was that it looked like they could get a haul for Ozuna if they did. Now, it appears they have no choice but to sell, and Ozuna has effectively been benched.
Because the Braves now have two good catchers, they’ve decided to flip-flop Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin behind the plate and in the DH role. That means Ozuna only has five at-bats in four games since the All-Star break.
With nine days until the deadline, the Braves just have to hope a team is desperate enough for offense to give up some kind of prospect capital for a three-time All-Star in the middle of a down year.
On Sunday, Greg Amsinger predicted that the Milwaukee Brewers, the new team with the best record in baseball, would play savior for the Braves by trading for Ozuna at the deadline.
“Marcell Ozuna is a true DH,” Amsinger said. “He’s been sliding down the Braves’ lineup. It’s a losing environment–the guy can still hit. I’m looking for a team that needs a right-handed bat that Marcell Ozuna will be comfortable with. So I’m looking for some familiarity, okay?
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“Christian Yelich hit in front of Marcell Ozuna when they were teammates with the Marlins. Let’s make that happen again. The Brewers are good; they need a right-handed bat in the middle of that order. Marcell Ozuna to the Brewers.
Ozuna, who sports an OPS of .751 with 13 home runs this year, has 10-and-5 rights, meaning he can veto a trade if he feels inclined. But with the Braves 11 games under .500, it’s hard to imagine he’d rather stay in Atlanta on the bench.
Milwaukee might have a place for Ozuna in their lineup, or they might not. They’ve now won 11 in a row, so it’s hard to argue they need a 34-year-old with diminishing power, but Ozuna does get on base much more often than the Brewers as a team.
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