The Atlanta Braves have entered the offseason earlier than they have in the last seven years — marking the first time since then that they’ve missed the playoffs. Now, critical decisions must be made, and that includes evaluating the future of some fan favorites. One of the biggest names to watch is Marcell Ozuna. Throughout the season, Ozuna’s name consistently surfaced in trade rumors. While the Braves explored potential deals, he reportedly vetoed multiple trade opportunities.

“According to my source, they tried to trade him to 3 teams but he vetoed all of them,” Braves insider Ryan Cothran posted.

However, there may have been more nuance to the situation. It’s possible that the Braves were working with Ozuna’s agent behind the scenes. According to one report, the rights to approve a trade may have been transferred to his agent, who then chose not to move forward.

“It’s possible that while Anthopoulos was discussing trades, he couldn’t agree on a deal that Ozuna’s agent could also sign off on. Just because Ozuna is leaving the deadline out of his hands doesn’t mean the 10-5 rights go out the window. He could have simply handed over those rights to his agent for the discussions,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.

Now that the offseason is in full swing, it’s up to the Braves to decide whether they want to bring Ozuna back or move on. Based on recent performance, his future in Atlanta looks uncertain.

“Here are three guys that could be on the way out of town for the Braves. Ozuna spent the last six seasons with the Braves. In 2023, he had 40 homers and 100 RBIs. In 2024, he had 39 homers, 104 RBIs, and batted over .300. But, he took a step back this year with 21 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .232/.355/.400 in 145 games. He’s going to be a free agent after the season. Ozuna was floated in trade chatter this summer but didn’t get moved. Keep an eye on him this winter,” SI’s Patrick McAvoy wrote.

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Ozuna’s tenure with the Braves has been nothing short of memorable. What began as a one-year contract turned into a multi-year run in which he became one of the most dangerous bats in the lineup.

However, age and regression appear to be catching up with him. His power numbers dipped significantly this year, and it seems unlikely the Braves will re-sign him — giving Ozuna full freedom in free agency.