The Atlanta Braves came into the season trying to extend their playoff streak to eight straight seasons in a loaded National League East division. Unfortunately, this roster is currently 43-55, well out of the postseason race, and with an aging core whose best years seem to be behind them.
Two of those players who fit those descriptions are designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias. The 34 and 35-year-olds have both had trying 2025 seasons and are each showing a considerable dip in form compared to last year. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller is giving Atlanta a sobering top priority heading into the trade deadline, and it involves both of these key players.
“Get something for Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias,” Miller argues. “Probably the most succinct way to sum up how horribly off the rails this season has gone for Atlanta is with the observation that the two team leaders in innings pitched by the end of the year might be Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder, neither of whom would be on the roster if they didn't have an entire rotation on the IL.
At 11 games below .500, though, the jig is up. It's unlikely they'll unload anyone under team control into 2026, but impending free agents Ozuna and Iglesias will likely be on the move.”
While it’s a bitter pill to swallow for the Braves to be sellers at the trade deadline, the franchise needs to invest more in a youth movement to replace its aging talent. Atlanta’s current farm system is not highly regarded, so dealing both Ozuna and Iglesias is a necessary step in the right direction toward rebuilding. How much the franchise can get for the two veterans is yet to be determined.
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