The Atlanta Braves made a big move in acquiring catcher Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics in a three-team trade also involving the Milwaukee Brewers. Here are three other moves they can make.
The Atlanta Braves‘ World Series title defense tour last season was unsuccessful, as they were eliminated by the eventual National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. This offseason, they watched as the Phillies brought in the likes of Trea Turner and Taijuan Walker, while the New York Mets bring in Justin Verlander, Jose Quintana, and Kodai Senga.
On Monday, the Braves made a big splash in the catching market, acquiring Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics in a three-team trade also including the Milwaukee Brewers. In doing so, they sent catcher William Contreras to the Brewers and three top 20 prospects to Oakland.
The Braves have the opportunity to build off of this momentum from the trade. Here are three moves Atlanta’s front office should consider after the Murphy deal.
3 moves Braves must make after Sean Murphy trade: Offload Marcell Ozuna’s contract
One move Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos should consider is freeing up money for their next big move. They can do so by offloading some of the big contracts on their team. One deal that stands out is Marcell Ozuna’s.
Ozuna agreed to terms with the Braves on a four-year, $65 million contract prior to the 2021 season. He has not lived up to the deal, especially this past season. Through 124 games this past season, Ozuna recorded a .226 batting average, a .274 on-base percentage, a .413 slugging percentage, 23 home runs, 56 RBI, and 106 hits.
The left fielder will earn $16 million in each of the next two seasons, and also have a club option for the 2025 season, which also counts for $16 million.
Atlanta should explore finding a team that would be willing to bank on Ozuna’s potential on the field, especially those who are in need of a power bat. Most importantly, the Braves can get his salary off the books.