3 Braves players who could be traded before Opening Day
By Mark Powell
The Atlanta Braves have been active in the trade market this offseason, dealing for the likes of Sean Murphy, previously a catcher for the A’s. Do they have more deals left to make?
Never count out Alex Anthopoulos on the offseason. AA has a habit for surprising even the most seasoned MLB insiders, one of which I am not. Atlanta tends to announce its own deals — especially as it pertains to contract extensions — catching us all off-guard.
The Sean Murphy trade was no exception. Atlanta included two other teams (Oakland and Milwaukee) to complete that deal, which sent William Contreras to the Brewers and Sean Murphy back to the Braves. It was a solid deal for all parties on the surface, minus perhaps the A’s who dealt yet another franchise cornerstone away.
But where else could Atlanta turn this offseason to make a surprise trade? There has to be more to come.
Braves rumors: A Marcell Ozuna trade is looming
If Alex Anthopoulos had an out in Marcell Ozuna’s contract, he’d take it.
Ozuna doesn’t add much of value from the plate and certainly not in the field. He’s gotten in legal trouble off the diamond, which included a domestic violence case and a DUI. We’re all for second chances, but a third and fourth? At some point, the negatives outweigh the positives.
The only issue with Ozuna is that his contract makes him tough to move. The Braves would have to attach some prospect capital to Ozuna to trade him in the first place, or pay the majority of his contract. At that point, why not stick him at DH anyway and see if he can regain his previous All-Star form?
Not anymore. Ozuna is a waste of space on an otherwise talented roster. He should not play the outfield under any circumstances. In a new-look Atlanta clubhouse, a player like Ozuna can do more harm than good. It’s time to cut bait, even if it means attaching a low-profile asset.