The San Diego Padres plan to be active at the trade deadline. General manager A.J. Preller is constantly looking for ways to improve the team and prepare for a playoff run. With the Atlanta Braves floundering this season, Tim Britton, Aaron Gleeman, and Chad Jennings of The Athletic believe Marcell Ozuna would be an excellent fit for the Padres. “Is Atlanta finally ready to call it quits in 2025?” Another losing skid and two more pitcher injuries have reduced its playoff chances to single digits,” they said. “As an imminent free agent who slugged 79 home runs over the last two years, Ozuna makes sense as the first piece to depart.
However, other from a huge increase in walk rate, everything else has decreased this season. He’s on track for just 20 home runs as a strict DH, and he’s been in a deep slump for more than a month. Ozuna also has 10-and-5 rights, which allow him to veto any trade. Ozuna is classified as a “elite bat for hire,” implying that the Braves will likely release him in the coming weeks. San Diego has been looking for someone to add some pop to the roster.
This would be ideal for both parties, as the Padres would gain a powerful bat to bolster their roster, and Ozuna would have the opportunity to play for a contender before entering free agency. It’s difficult to imagine him turning down a trade to San Diego, where he might make an immediate impact. The Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers are also mentioned as potential destinations for Ozuna, but it’s difficult to imagine him choosing one of those teams over the Padres.
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