One Braves player makes list of top 25 free agents

With most of their core locked up for the foreseeable future, the Atlanta Braves don’t have a ton of players set to test free agency this winter. But one guy did make Jim Bowden’s list of the top 25 free agents this upcoming offseason — designated hitter Marcell Ozuna — who comes in at #24

“Injuries and age-related decline appear to have caught up with the veteran DH, who is batting .238 with 20 home runs, well below his production last season, when he hit 39 homers, slashed .302/.378/.546 and finished fourth in the NL MVP voting,” Bowden writes. “Could he be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate next year? Sure, but I don’t think it’s likely, and it’s not likely he’s with the Braves next year either.”

A few weeks ago, Ozuna might not have made this list. He was mired in a nasty two month slump and clearly feeling the effects of a tear in his hip. However, the Big Bear has busted out of it in a big way since the Braves decided to hang onto him at the trade deadline, hitting five home runs in his last ten games.

This recent hot streak brings into question whether Alex Anthopoulos would consider bringing Marcell Ozuna back. He’ll be 35-years-old next season, and designated hitters typically don’t garner very lucrative contracts. It’s very likely Ozuna is looking for a one-year deal in the winter, which is right in the Braves’ wheelhouse.

That said, the Braves might not be interested in retaining a player that is incapable of playing defense. They can DH one of their catchers some days, and they also might want to consider using Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jurickson Profar as the designated hitter in the future. Atlanta needs to add another bat this offseason, but they should be targeting someone that can play in the outfield as well, giving whoever is managing next year more versatility with the lineup card.