Atlanta Braves Moved on From Aging Veteran at Perfect Time

The Atlanta Braves made a decision last winter, choosing to not bring back designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Months later, that decision was the right one.

Atlanta let the 35-year-old walk in free agency after the 2025 season. He had spent six seasons in Atlanta, most of them as one of the top hitters in the lineup. At the time, it was a fair debate whether or not he should be brought back. Despite his decline, he still was a productive player and filled a hole.

The case for keeping him was easy to make. In 2024, Ozuna hit .302 with a .378 on-base percentage, .925 OPS, 39 home runs and 104 RBIs. He finished fourth in National League MVP voting that year and earned an All-Star selection. He had also launched 40 homers in 2023. 

The warning signs arrived in 2025, though. Ozuna slipped to a .232 average with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs over 145 games. The power still showed up occasionally, but the consistency faded. Atlanta clearly read the dip as the start of a real decline.

The 2026 season proved the front office right. Ozuna signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The bat never came around. He hit just .203 with a .286 on-base percentage, .612 OPS, eight home runs and 29 RBIs across 70 games. His new club released him on August 5, and he finished the year on the open market.

According to MLB.com Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, his rise and fall likely has to do with his health. Ozuna battled through hip problems throughout most of the 2025 season with Atlanta. In the offseason he did not undergo hip surgery and paid the price as his numbers declined even further with Pittsburgh. 

It is unclear if Ozuna will land another deal in MLB. Next year he will be entering his 15th season and can no longer play the outfield, meaning a team would have to give up their designated hitter spot for him. Given how poorly he performed offensively this year, the risk may be too much for any club to take.

Atlanta clinched the NL East over the weekend, its seventh division title in nine years, and sits at 92-64 with just six games left in the regular season. The offense produced all season without leaning on Ozuna. Drake Baldwin now logs starts at designated hitter regularly, with Sean Murphy taking over behind the plate. When Murphy sits, manager Walt Weiss has the flexibility to use the vacancy to give players days off their feet.