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The Atlanta Braves could be staring down the end of a dynasty.
The Braves have made the postseason in each of the last seven seasons, including a World Series championship in 2021. But mounting injuries and the ascendance of other teams in the National League could mean that 2025 will end without a postseason bid.
Going into Friday, the Braves sit in third place in the National League East division with a 14-16 record. The team can still hope for a major boost with the return of franchise cornerstone Ronald Acuña Jr., but the latest update on his injury suggests it might come too little, too late to save their season.
“Acuña is still building strength in his quads,” according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “They still don’t know exactly when he’ll begin playing rehab games. Best guess is he’s still a couple weeks from beginning a rehab stint.”
Without a clear timetable for his return, Acuña might not be back on the field until sometime in June. And that might force the team to make some tough decisions.
If the Braves are unable to get back into clear contention with or without Acuña, the team will have to consider trading away slugger Marcell Ozuna, who is set to become a free agent at the end of this season.
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“...Marcell Ozuna, if they’re out of it, they’ve got to move on,” MLB Network host Greg Armsinger argued in a recent segment. “So many teams need slug. They will give them tons of prospects for one Marcell Ozuna.”
There could be any number of teams lining up to negotiate for Ozuna, who would instantly provide a major power boost to their lineup. And Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports singled out the division rival Philadelphia Phillies as a compelling landing spot.
“Yes, the Braves and Phillies trading together might not make too much sense, but if Philadelphia is willing to part ways with any of its top prospects, Atlanta isn’t in a situation to get creative and not send him to a team because of that,” Conahan argued. “After hitting 39 home runs a year ago and 40 the season prior, Ozuna would be the perfect addition to a Phillies team that’s looking to get over the hump.”
The Phillies would surely be interested in adding yet another power hitter to their order, particularly as they look to mix up their offense and avoid another early-round playoff exit. But for the Braves, the only thing that could be worse than missing the playoffs might be helping the Phillies win it all.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)