NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves, MLB Rumors, Cubs, Red Sox (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
MLB Rumors: Braves must find a way out with Marcell Ozuna
Enough is enough. Marcell Ozuna does not deserve starting reps with the current version of the Atlanta Braves lineup. Even with injuries, and even with his potential power, Ozuna has made little improvements from last season to this one.
Ozuna’s been arrested for a DUI and domestic violence. He’s been downright bad at the plate for more than the last year. But still, Brian Snitker, Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves gift him opportunities. Why? Is it a point of pride?
Ozuna was a force in the shortened COVID-19 pandemic season. He led all of baseball in home runs. At this point, that was a long time ago. This sport moves quickly, and the pitch clock has expired on whatever the Braves thought they had with Ozuna when they signed him to a four-year, $65 million extension.
Finding a team to take on that deal will not be easy, but at least relegate him to the bench in favor of someone — anyone — who can swing the bat better. Vaughn Grissom is just a phone call away.
As FanSided’s Cody Williams pointed out, it looked like Ozuna turned a corner in spring training. Then, the bottom fell out:
“Marcell Ozuna played well. In the Grapefruit League, the veteran outfielder and DH hit .315 with an .854 OPS while mashing seven extra-base hits. It was enough to give manager Brian Snitker (and some more optimistic members of the fanbase) hope that Ozuna could turn things around.
Early-season results, however, have been even worse than in 2022 when Ozuna hit a paltry .226 with a .687 OPS. In Wednesday night’s win over the Reds, Ozuna went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. For the season now, he’s 3-for-36 (.086) with two home runs, a .445 OPS and 13 strikeouts.”
Now, not so much.