Hudson Webb
Jul 24, 2025
In this article we detail why the Braves MUST trade Marcell Ozuna before the trade deadline
You heard it here first, we need Marcell Ozuna from the Atlanta Braves traded at the deadline more than we need water. Here are a few reasons why:
Time to Cash In While the Season’s Gone
With Atlanta floundering and firmly out of the NL East race, holding onto Ozuna makes little sense. His contract expires after 2025, making him a rental at best, and the Braves are already sitting at 10+ games under .500, with little upside down the stretch. Rather than wasting plate appearances on a bat that’s trending downward, Atlanta should flip him now for prospects or bullpen help before he walks as a free agent next winter.
Defensive Liability: Ozuna Doesn’t Play the Field
Ozuna’s role this year is almost purely as a designated hitter, his value in the field is effectively zero. He hasn’t logged meaningful innings in left, center, or right field in 2025, and with Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy both pushing for DH and catching time, Ozuna has been benched frequently since June, hitting just .562 OPS across recent games. When you can’t defend and you’ve lost your bat, you’ve lost any right to a roster spot.
2025 Advanced Metrics: Underwhelming At Best
For the season Ozuna has just a .232 batting average, 13 home runs, and 42 RBIs in 328 at-bats, translating to a mediocre .743 OPS, which places him in the bottom half of MLB regulars. His Statcast metrics confirm it: his wOBA is .334 with an expected wOBA of just .372; a hard‑hit rate of 49.2% and barrel rate of 10.9% aren’t enough to boost an otherwise lackluster slash line. His OPS+ sits at 109—barely league average—doing little to justify playing time in a rebuilding phase.
The Weight of His Criminal Past
Ozuna’s 2021 domestic violence arrest and subsequent 20‑game suspension—and a separate DUI charge in 2022—still cast a long shadow over his reputation. Braves fans and critics alike still get made fun of because of his past off‑field controversies, and the more he sits in the lineup, the more the franchise looks tone‑deaf about accountability. Trading him removes a distraction, and shows a willingness to distance the team from character baggage.
Who Could Be Interested? Potential Suitors
Several contenders might bite: teams in playoff positions needing a left‑handed power bat off the bench or a part‑time DH with pop. Think Pittsburgh, Seattle, or maybe even a Dodgers team looking for depth down the stretch. Even a rebuilding club might take on his remaining salary in exchange for a low‑level prospect. With his contract expiring, the asking price shouldn’t be sky‑high, and Atlanta should get value now rather than nothing in 2026.
Conclusion: Marcell Ozuna is not helping this beleaguered 2025 Braves club. He can’t field, his bat is mediocre, his off‑field legacy remains problematic, and his contract situation makes him deal-worthy. Trading him before July 31 is the smart, responsible move—one that could yield at least something useful for a franchise that needs to look ahead, not retroactively excuse lost games.