How Does the Ozuna saga end with the Braves?
I’ve been trying to warn all of you for a while now that it’s very likely Ozuna and the Braves don’t reunite.
I get the love for Ozuna and how well he fit in the lockerroom — the same was true for Josh Donaldson. It’s very evident in the responses to my tweet above that the fans love Ozuna and desperately want him back.
But like Donaldson, AA has a number in mind that he’s willing to go to, and once another team offers more, that’s that.
AA has shown he’s not willing to give out a huge long-term deal to players in their thirties, and I personally don’t see Ozuna aging well.
On the flip side, there aren’t a ton of better options out there unless AA finally decides to part with some prospects and make a big trade.
And the Braves are in a window to win a World Series, so you can’t let this offseason pass by without finding a big bat for the lineup.
Perhaps Ozuna does fall to the Braves, or maybe we wait this think out long enough for MLB to suddenly decide they want a DH in 2021.
But if I were a betting man — and I’m definitely not — I’d put my money on Ozuna signing elsewhere this offseason for the same reasons Donaldson did. Me saying that means you can be assured the Braves will sign Ozuna today — you’re welcome.
I just don’t feel like Ozuna is the guy AA is willing to go all-in on and go past the number he’s comfortable with, which is generally what you have to do in order to sign big free agents like Ozuna.