Braves Trade Announcement Could Mean Marcell Ozuna ‘Good as Gone’

The Atlanta Braves pulled off an extra-innings win against the rival New York Mets on Tuesday, but it’s going to take a whole lot more to turn the season around.

The Braves have a losing record and sit in third place in the National League East as injury setbacks and struggles at the plate have plagued their season. Given those struggles and the notable star players on the roster, the Braves seemed as if they could be heading toward seller status at the upcoming trade deadline.

But president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos made an announcement to the contrary.

“We’re not selling,” Anthopoulos said during an appearance on 680 The Fan’s “Cellini and Dimino.” “(E)specially a player under team control beyond this year.”

Anthopoulos added that caveat when asked specifically about reigning Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, who has an $18 million club option for next year. But it was also a pretty telling hedge when it comes to designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who won’t be under team control beyond this year unless the Braves sign him to an extension.

“That’s an important distinction, one that leaves the door open for really the only path Atlanta has left to make a splash at the deadline: a trade of Marcell Ozuna,” according to Chris Landers of FanSided, who added that Anthopoulos’ comments “all but confirms” the “slugger is as good as gone.”

Anthopoulos noted that the Braves expect to add to the roster by the deadline and that the team is exploring trades now. But with few intriguing prospects to deal away and an unwillingness to move any players with future club control, it seems a swap of Ozuna could be the only path the team has to a significant external addition.

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