While the Braves have become a trade deadline mainstay over the past few seasons. And while they’ll be back in the heart of trade deadline talk this year, it’ll be in a bit of a different way.
The Braves enter play on Tuesday 11 games under .500 and and 10 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot — two stats that all but confirm they’re going to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
And one of the top players who has emerged as a candidate to be dealt is Marcell Ozuna, who is an impending free agent. And, according to one MLB Network expert, he could stick in the National League and reunite with a former teammate.
MLB Network’s proposed Marcell Ozuna trade to NL Central could make sense for Braves
On Sunday, MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger broke down his predictions for the trade deadline, where he predicted the Braves could link up with the Brewers in a trade that sends Ozuna to Milwaukee.
"Marcell Ozuna is a true DH," Amsinger said, per Sports Illustrated's Jackson Roberts . "He's been sliding down the Braves' lineup. It's a losing environment--the guy can still hit. I'm looking for a team that needs a right-handed bat that Marcell Ozuna will be comfortable with.
"Christian Yelich hit in front of Marcell Ozuna when they were teammates with the Marlins. Let's make that happen again. The Brewers are good; they need a right-handed bat in the middle of that order.”
After beating the Mariners on Monday, the Brewers now have the best record in baseball (60-40) despite having a team made up of “average Joes,” per manager Pat Murphy.
But, as Amsinger mentioned, the team still needs a right-handed power bat. They only have three players with 10+ home runs, while Yelich leads the way with 19.
Yelich has also been their primary designated hitter, which would lead to a bit of an adjustment if the team acquired Ozuna since he’s a full-time designated hitter.
While he’s not doing as well as he has in years prior (he’s only slugging .390), he’s still hit 13 home runs in the middle of the Braves’ lineup.
The biggest question will come down to what Ozuna wants, since he has over 10 years of service time and has spent five years with the Braves, he has the power to veto any potential trade. While that may allow him to choose where he ends up, it would be hard to believe that he wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to go to a contender; let alone the team that has the best record in baseball.
The Braves should also be doing everything they can to move Ozuna since getting rid of him would free up the designated hitter spot for Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin to rotate between.
Ozuna’s an impending free agent and seems like a lock to get moved at the deadline. While trading him to another team in the National League would sting Braves fans, it could also for Atlanta to make the most of a bit of a depressed asset.
And in a year that’s already over, that’s the best thing you can ask for.