Since the implementation of the universal DH in the National League, the Atlanta Braves have penciled in Marcell Ozuna as their designated hitter for the majority of their games. However, Ozuna is set to become a free agent this offseason and Alex Anthopoulos has to figure out how he wants to utilize the DH spot next season.
Unless you have an impactful slugger like Kyle Schwarber or Yordan Alvarez, keeping the DH spot flexible is a logical choice for most teams. Anthopoulos has a few routes he can go with DH next season, but one under the radar option may present itself as the offseason unfolds.
Braves could look at moving Jurickson Profar to DH in 2026
Much like the Marcell Ozuna signing back in 2021, the Braves first signed Profar with the hope his bat would prove valuable enough to disregard any defensive lapses he may have in the outfield. However, it's likely Atlanta's front office didn't anticipate Profar's defense being THIS bad. In just 68 games of action, Profar has an abysmal -5 OAA. His fielding run value ranks in the ninth percentile in baseball according to Baseball Savant.
Profar has never been a strong defender, but his slow sprint speed, average arm, and limited range makes playing a spacious left field at Truist Park a bit of an issue. This is why it may make some sense for the Braves to aggressively pursue an outfielder this winter, and transition Profar into getting the majority of his playing time at DH. On top of that, allowing Ronald Acuna Jr. to get off his feet every now and then isn't the worst idea either.
The only thing that could really prevent this would be the Braves keeping Sean Murphy on the roster in 2026. Murphy will be coming off surgery, so moving him will not be as straightforward as fans may hope. It's clear the Braves front office enjoys having two viable catching options on the roster, but with Drake Baldwin's ability to hit left-handed pitching the 24 year-old backstop seems prime to anchor the catcher position in Atlanta for years to come.
Murphy's role on the team would require an open DH slot, and alternating one of your best defenders at DH drastically reduces his value to the team. The DH conundrum is a huge reason why the upcoming offseason is going to be fascinating to observe as fans will eagerly await how Alex Anthopoulos builds the 2026 roster. Time will tell who mans the DH role in 2026, but don't be shocked if the current left fielder ends up being the guy who takes the majority of the reps at DH next season.