The Atlanta Braves spent much of last season trying to move several players at the trade deadline after their playoff hopes had faded. Yet one player refused to budge — Marcell Ozuna, who reportedly vetoed three potential trades.
“While Anthopoulos may have explored deals, it’s possible he couldn’t find one that both the Braves and Ozuna’s agent would approve. Even if Ozuna wasn’t directly handling the negotiations, his 10-5 rights still applied — he may have simply allowed his agent to manage discussions,” wrote SI’s Harrison Smajovits.
Now that the offseason is here, Ozuna has entered free agency, forcing the Braves to decide whether to re-sign him or move on. Unfortunately for Ozuna, age and inconsistency are working against him.
“The challenge for Ozuna is that he’s older now, his performance last year was mediocre at best, and the teams once seen as likely suitors no longer seem interested — especially as more clubs rethink how they use the DH spot,” noted Eric Cole of HTHB.
One potential replacement is Ryan O’Hearn, who just wrapped up a solid season with the Baltimore Orioles.
“With Matt Olson locked in at first base, O’Hearn would serve primarily as a designated hitter, though he could also cover some outfield duties. Spotrac lists his estimated market value at $11.5 million over two years — a reasonable deal for a 32-year-old — making him a realistic target for Atlanta,” Smajovits added.
Signing O’Hearn would be a low-risk, team-friendly move. While he doesn’t have Ozuna’s power, his versatility could add depth to the Braves’ lineup.
If Ozuna leaves, it would mark the end of an era in Atlanta — but sometimes even the best runs eventually come to a close.
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