Braves 'Could' Cut Ties With 40 Home Run Slugger During Offseason

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Brian Snitker looks on during a game against the Diamondbacks.

The Atlanta Braves have some tough decisions to make over the next few months, especially if Skipper Brian Snitker decides to hang them up. Among the other moves the Braves have to make is the future of slugger Marcell Ozuna, who is set to hit the free agency market.

Ozuna has been one of the top offensive players in baseball over much of the past few years, but he struggled somewhat during the 2025 campaign, hitting just 21 home runs and posting an OPS+ of 113. Those numbers are way down from his 40 and 39 home run days in 2023 and 2024.

With the Braves playing as poorly as they did throughout the year, moving on from Ozuna makes sense for both parties. Sports Illustrated’s Patrick McAvoy expects that to be the case, naming him one of three Braves who could be off the roster after not making the postseason.

“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,” he wrote .

Where Could Braves’ Marcell Ozuna Sign?

Ozuna should have a few landing spots if he decides to move on from the Atlanta Braves. If he could return at a decent price, it makes sense to keep him around, but there isn’t much of a reason for him to take anything less than what he thinks he deserves.

Ozuna will likely be paid like one of the top designated hitters in the game. If he decides to move on, and the Braves do too, Steven Teal of FanSided believes the Seattle Mariners are the most obvious landing spot.

“There are a couple of teams that feel like an obvious fit for him. Those teams are the Rangers and Mariners. Texas has Joc Pederson filling that role currently on a two-year, $37 million deal. That contract does have an opt-out after 2025, but with how poorly he has performed, that doesn’t seem likely. If he were to opt out for some reason, the Rangers could scoop up Ozuna to fill the role.

“The most likely team to sign Ozuna is the Mariners. It just feels like a good fit for him. Reuniting with former Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer feels like a match made in heaven to help Ozuna return to form,” he wrote .

Will Braves’ Brian Snitker Impact Offseason?

Perhaps Snitker’s decision will have a massive impact on what the Atlanta Braves do throughout the winter. If Snitker decides to return, they could view it as an opportunity to win a World Series with a veteran manager.

If they want to take a different direction, it’s always possible that the Braves will adopt a different approach and try to get younger. In that case, Ozuna being on the roster wouldn’t make much sense.

When speaking to reporters about his decision, Snitker admitted that he had not yet made a decision.

“I’ll be honest with you, I teetered on the fence,” Snitker said of his future, per David O’Brien of The Athletic. “I’ve never been through this before. So I wasn’t sure how to navigate it. Talked to a lot of people that had been through it, and I got some good advice. And so I just tried to stay in the moment pretty much and not focus it onto (the team) on that day’s game.”

Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared at Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. More about Jon Conahan