The Atlanta Braves have had a very solid offseason to this point. Their front office has addressed pretty much all big needs, except for a starting pitcher.
Atlanta is also awaiting the free agency decision of Marcell Ozuna, who is a current free agent. Ozuna has been a staple in the Braves for several years, and if Atlanta is unable to retain him, the DH will presumably be another position of need for Alex Anthopoulos and the rest of the Braves’ executives.
A recent prediction has Marcell Ozuna departing from Atlanta in free agency for the Cleveland Guardians, who are looking for some pop in their order.
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Braves Predicted to Cut Ties with Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna is a three-time All-Star and 2X Silver Slugger award winner. He’s become one of MLB’s best Designated Hitters since becoming one a few seasons ago. His defense took a sharp decline, and the Braves made the wise decision to use him purely as a hitter.
A recent prediction by FanSided’s Christopher Kline has the Cleveland Guardians landing Marcell Ozuna in an “under-the-radar move”:
GettyAtlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna
“Last season was complicated for Marcell Ozuna. The Atlanta Braves attempted to carve out at-bats for Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin, subsequently leaving Ozuna on the pine more often than he’s used to. The value in league circles for a mid-30s DH is typically muted, but Ozuna â despite his relative struggles â is still a damn good hitter.”
In 2025, Ozuna was still an above-average hitter, but his season just wasn’t up to his previous standards. Marcell Ozuna hit 21 home runs with 68 RBIs and an OPS+ of 113 last season.
Over six seasons as a Brave, Ozuna has 148 home runs and an OPS+ of 127. He’s always been a successful hitter wherever he’s played, but Atlanta is where he maximized his production.
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How Would the Braves Replace Marcell Ozuna?
Now, here’s where the Braves have a decision to make. If they are unable to retain Ozuna, they could use Sean Murphy as the primary DH, but his status to start the 2026 season is unclear after hip surgery.
Atlanta’s best option would be to head to the alternative market and pick up a cheap bat, like Joc Pederson, who can provide some pop in the lineup.
Marcell Ozuna certainly isn’t the best bat available on the free agent market, but considering his age and the fact that he’s still productive means he should have no issue landing a one or two-year contract somewhere. And maybe he returns to Atlanta, but it feels like that deal would have already happened if the Braves wanted him back.
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