Insider expects Braves will soon cut ties with 3-time All-Star slugger

It's going to be a very interesting next two weeks for the Atlanta Braves.

The 2025 season has been an abject disaster for the Braves so far, and the point of salvation may already have passed. If the Braves can't go 11-1 or 10-2 in their final games before the trade deadline, they may have no choice but to sell.

What's worse, if the Braves are going to stick to only trading away veterans on expiring contracts, their sale might not be all that fruitful. Much of that would hinge on the value of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who picked the wrong year to stop hitting home runs.

The 34-year-old Ozuna has just 13 long balls and a .396 slugging percentage this year, putting his OPS+ at 115. That's not an ideal figure for someone who can't play a defensive position, and it may mean teams looking for offense shy away from him.

However, insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post still predicted that Ozuna will get traded before the deadline during a recent Bleacher Report live stream.

"I'm gonna say Ozuna's gonna get traded," Heyman said. "I do think the Braves are gonna have to sell the pieces that are, at this point, on expiring contracts, and that is him.

Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp

"They could keep him, and maybe they'd give him the qualifying offer... I don't know. He's kind of an older DH, he's got a little bit of an injury right now, but I think they need to trade him. Being realistic, I think they will be, I think he will go, and he should go."

Ozuna has 10-and-5 rights, so he has the right to reject any trade. But with the Braves currently sitting 9 1/2 games out of playoff position, it's very possible he's looking forward for the chance to jump to a contender.

With only 13 days to go until the deadline, we'll know soon enough what the future holds for Ozuna and a handful of other Braves veterans.

More MLB: Phillies predicted to pull off trade for Twins' Gold Glove outfielder