The Atlanta Braves do not have much to play for in the 2025 season. In what has been a disaster of a regular season with underperformance and several key injuries, Atlanta is setting its sights on the offseason, where it will have a couple of key decisions to make with star players.
The Braves have holes in a lot of places and could use a shortstop, multiple bullpen arms, and maybe another depth starter. One of the players that the Braves' front office will have a big decision to make with is Marcell Ozuna, who is set to hit free agency following the season.
Marcell Ozuna predicted to be in the Nationals' 2026 Opening Day lineup
Bleacher Report recently ran a predictions piece where they project every MLB team's 2026 Opening Day lineup, and in the piece, Marcell Ozuna lands on the Washington Nationals:
"The Nationals need someone to help protect rising star James Wood in the middle of the lineup, and slugger Marcell Ozuna could end up providing some nice value relative to his next contract after a middling 2025 campaign. The focal point for the club should be the pitching staff, but a veteran run producer would also go a long way."
Ozuna is having somewhat of a down season with just 20 home runs in 130 games. In 2024, he hit 39, and in 2023, he hit 39. This season, he's hitting .225 with an OPS+ of 111. He's also an aging player, which means he'd likely get a one-year deal from whoever he would sign with. In all likelihood, Ozuna is not going to re-sign with the Braves. After a really dissapointing season, Atlanta's front office likely wants to put their chips in a different basket, and a younger candidate.
As BR outlined, though, Marcell Ozuna would be a good fit in Washington because he'd be able to protect some of their young stars in the lineup. The only drawback to signing Ozuna is that he cannot play defense anymore, so he'd strictly be a DH option.