Braves’ $11.5M Ozuna Replacement: Why Ryan O’Hearn Is Atlanta’s Smart, Low-Risk Slugger Bet for 2026.vc
Atlanta, October 27, 2025 – The Atlanta Braves’ 2025 season was a frustrating fade—76 wins, a missed playoffs, and a designated hitter spot that sputtered under Marcell Ozuna’s subpar .238/.301/.415 line and .716 OPS, his worst since 2018. Now a free agent at 35, Ozuna’s no-trade vetoes at the deadline and $16 million salary make his return unlikely, per SI’s Harrison Smajovits. Enter Ryan O’Hearn, the Orioles’ breakout All-Star whose .277/.344/.444 slash, 18 HRs, and 80 RBIs in 2025 scream value. Projected at a team-friendly $11.5 million over two years, O’Hearn’s versatility (DH, 1B, OF) and steady power position him as Atlanta’s smartest offseason pivot—a low-risk slugger to ignite a lineup craving consistency. With GM Alex Anthopoulos eyeing contention on a budget, is O’Hearn the Ozuna upgrade that keeps the Braves chopping?
Ozuna’s Exit: A Necessary Reset
Ozuna’s 2025 was a shadow of his 2023 peak (.306/.372/.598, 40 HRs). Injuries limited him to 120 games, his .238 average and 95 wRC+ ranked bottom-10 among qualifiers, and his DH-only role (post-2021 suspension) drew trade whispers he quashed thrice. “Ozuna’s age and subpar year make him a tough sell,” HTHB’s Eric Cole noted, with teams shying from his $16M price amid DH devaluation. Free agency looms, but Atlanta’s $180M payroll—swollen by Olson’s $168M extension and Acuña’s $100M—demands thrift. Smajovits adds: “Ozuna handed trade rights to his agent, but no deals stuck.” Result? A DH void in a lineup that ranked 20th in runs (4.12 per game), forcing Anthopoulos to hunt value.
On X, fans vent: “Ozuna’s vetoes killed us—time for fresh legs!” one post racked 5K likes.
O’Hearn: The Versatile Power Plug
O’Hearn, 32, exploded in 2025: His first All-Star nod came with a .277 average, .788 OPS, 122 wRC+, and 18 HRs over 144 games, a career-best leap from 2024’s .269/.329/.443. Baltimore deployed him at DH (50 games), 1B (80), and even LF (14), his 85th-percentile exit velocity (91.2 mph) fueling 80 RBIs and a .344 OBP that fits Atlanta’s on-base obsession. Not Ozuna’s 40-HR thunder, but O’Hearn’s 15% barrel rate and groundball avoidance (38.5%) project 20 HRs in Truist’s confines, per FanGraphs.
The contract? A steal: Spotrac pegs $11.5M over two years ($5.75M AAV), far below Ozuna’s $16M, with O’Hearn’s non-Boras agency easing talks. “Low-risk, high-floor—O’Hearn’s consistency upgrades our DH without breaking the bank,” Smajovits wrote. In a lineup starved for lefty balance (Olson, Riley righties), his switch-hitting threat (.800 OPS vs. LHP) slots perfectly.
| Player | 2025 AVG/OBP/SLG | HR | RBI | wRC+ | Projected AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcell Ozuna | .238/.301/.415 | 20 | 68 | 95 | $16M |
| Ryan O’Hearn | .277/.344/.444 | 18 | 80 | 122 | $5.75M |
Why O’Hearn Fits: Low-Risk, High-Upside
Atlanta’s 2025 DH woes—Ozuna’s .716 OPS, 20 HRs—ranked 22nd in runs from the spot. O’Hearn’s .788 OPS and 122 wRC+ crush that, plus his 1B/OF glove (85th-percentile arm) covers Olson’s rest days or injuries. At 32, he’s in his prime—three straight .270+ seasons—offering stability without Ozuna’s $16M anchor or age-35 risks. Anthopoulos, a master of value (e.g., Joc Pederson’s $5M one-year), could pair him with a platoon like Josh Bell for $10–12M total.
The smart play? A two-year, $11.5M deal with a 2028 option, buying time for prospects like Nacho Alvarez Jr. Cole adds: “O’Hearn’s not Ozuna’s power, but his versatility fits Atlanta’s adaptability needs.”
Ozuna’s Farewell: Nostalgia Meets Necessity
Ozuna’s Braves run—2021–2025: .264/.334/.507, 121 HRs, 2021 All-Star—ends bittersweetly. His vetoes blocked deadline deals, but age and regression (.238 AVG) signal change. “All good things end,” fans post on X, blending gratitude with resolve: “Ozuna gave us rings—now O’Hearn gives us tomorrow.” Potential landings? Phillies or Yankees for a $10M one-year prove-it pact.
Conclusion
Ryan O’Hearn’s $11.5M profile isn’t flashy, but it’s Atlanta’s offseason ace: Versatile, value-driven, and poised to plug the Ozuna void without payroll peril. As the Braves chase 2026 redemption, this low-risk slugger could be Anthopoulos’ shrewdest stroke—trading nostalgia for a new narrative. Braves Country, embrace the shift: O’Hearn isn’t Ozuna 2.0; he’s the upgrade Atlanta needs. Chop wisely.
