THE DOOR IS OPEN: Braves ‘Haven’t Closed the Door’ on Marcell Ozuna Reunion, GM Confirms.vc
(ATLANTA) — The Atlanta Braves are keeping their options wide open at the Designated Hitter spot. Following weeks of speculation that Marcell Ozuna’s tenure in Atlanta was over after his contract expired, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos (AA) has delivered a surprising update, confirming the team “haven’t closed the door” on a reunion with the popular slugger.1
The announcement forces the Braves into a potential bidding war for a player many believed was a casualty of the team’s late-season offensive struggles and his hip injury.
The Anthopoulos Stance
Anthopoulos made it clear at the GM Meetings that while the team is prioritizing other areas (shortstop and pitching), they remain flexible about the DH spot, even for a pure DH like Ozuna.2
“We haven’t closed the door on guys like Ozuna, but we just don’t know,” Anthopoulos said, via MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.3 “We’ll see what opportunities present themselves in the winter. If someone who is a pure DH is the right move, we’ll make it. But right now, we’re not committed to anything.”
The Pros and Cons of a Reunion
Ozuna, who turns 35 next month, is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign where he hit only 21 home runs—a significant drop-off from his 39+ home run totals in the previous two seasons.4 This decline was largely attributed to a nagging hip injury he played through after April.5
| PROS (Why the Door is Open) | CONS (The Risk) |
| High Ceiling Power: In 2023-2024, he was arguably the team’s best offensive player (39+ HR, 100+ RBI). If healthy, he solves the power need. | Injury/Age Risk: His performance decline was directly tied to injury. Committing to a 35-year-old DH is inherently risky. |
| Clubhouse Presence: Ozuna is universally liked and a respected veteran voice in the locker room. | Roster Rigidity: Re-signing Ozuna commits the DH spot, limiting the ability to rotate players like Ronald Acuña Jr. (for rest) or catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin (for at-bats). |
| Affordable Price: Due to the injury and age, he is projected to sign for a modest 1-2 year deal in the $15 million AAV range, a price AA can manage. | Lack of Versatility: Ozuna is a pure DH, whereas the Braves might prefer an outfielder/DH hybrid for added flexibility. |
The decision to keep the door open suggests the Braves are waiting to see if Ozuna’s market dries up or if his medical reports clear him to be the elite slugger he was just 12 months ago. For now, the possibility of the “Big Bear” returning for another chapter remains a tantalizing option for the club.
