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Marcell Ozuna could bolt the Atlanta Braves in MLB free agency.

The season did not go as planned for the Atlanta Braves, but fans are hoping things are different as the MLB free agent rumors heat up. Before Atlanta can make a big splash, the club faces decisions on several of their own free agents.

Slugger Marcell Ozuna has had a complicated tenure with the Braves. The star was once one of the key reasons why the Braves were an NL contender, but off-field woes combined with inconsistent production pose serious questions about Ozuna’s future in Atlanta.

Sports Illustrated’s Will Laws and Nick Selbe offered early predictions for the top MLB free agents. Ozuna is predicted to bolt the Braves for the struggling Colorado Rockies. The slugger is ranked as the No. 46 rated free agent by Sports Illustrated.

“After a fourth-place MVP finish in 2024, Ozuna suffered a stark power outage this year but partially compensated with MLB’s third-best walk rate, behind only Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, leaving him with a .232/.355/.400 slash line,” Laws and Selbe wrote in a November 7, 2025, story titled, “MLB Free Agent Rankings and Signing Predictions.” “For someone who’s strictly been a DH for three years now, it’s less than a contender wants.”

Here’s a look at the latest Braves rumors amid MLB free agency.

The Braves May Not Re-Sign 3-Time All-Star Marcell Ozuna Amid Recent Struggles

Ozuna just completed a four-year, $65 million contract, but could be headed for a bit of a pay cut. Spotrac projects Ozuna’s market value to be a two-year, $27.4 million contract.

Ozuna’s market will be interesting given the veteran’s recent struggles. The slugger’s .232 average and 21 home runs were his worst statistical season since 2022. Ozuna’s only saving grace was his ability to get on base via walks, posting a career-high 94 base on balls in 2025.

Braves Rumors: Atlanta to Target Pitchers and a Shortstop in MLB Free Agency

Following a 43-119 season, the Rockies are desperate for any kind of help. As for the Braves, fans can expect the team to look to bolster the pitching staff and shortstop depth in the coming weeks.

“(Atlanta general manager Alex) Anthopoulos said Braves need to add ‘a lot of relievers’ but for now have prioritized shortstop and starting pitcher,” The Athletic’s David O’Brien detailed in a November 11, message on X. “‘We’re gonna focus on those spots. We’ll see where those lead us, what the acquisition costs are and all that, and then we’ll turn our attention to bullpen.’”

MLB Trade Rumors: Braves Linked to Deal for Mariners SS J.P. Crawford

The challenge is the Braves have not proven to be big spenders in recent years. MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco labels J.P. Crawford and Ezequiel Tovar as potential trade targets for Atlanta.

“Bo Bichette is the only other free agent regular at the position,” Franco detailed in a November 11, story titled, “Braves Focused On Shortstop, Rotation Early In Offseason.” “He’d obviously be far more expensive than (Ha-Seong) Kim would. The trade market looks barren, especially if the Nationals don’t want to trade CJ Abrams to a division rival.

“Maybe there’ll be a long shot trade option like J.P. Crawford or Ezequiel Tovar, but the likelier outcome is that the Braves would either need to stick with (Nick) Allen or trade for a similarly low-upside stopgap if they don’t get a Kim deal done.”

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports contributor covering the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams

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