Marcell Ozuna is primed to put up big numbers while patrolling left field for the Atlanta Braves.
Having missed out on the Josh Donaldson sweepstakes, the Atlanta Braves did their best to replace his offensive numbers by agreeing on a one year contract with outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
Ozuna, who batted .241 while hitting 29 home runs last season for the St. Louis Cardinals will bring some power to the middle of the Braves lineup as he’s assured to slide into the outfield next to superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. This addition should provide some stability for the Braves in left field as they ran eight different guys to the position at some point last year with Austin Riley and his .226 average getting the bulk of playing time.
Official numbers of the deal are one year for $18 million, fitting as the Braves found similar success after signing Donaldson to a one year contract the previous year. Atlanta has also brought in Cole Hamels on a one year deal this year and resigned aging outfielder Nick Markakis to a one year pact as well.
Ozuna had what some would call a down year last season for the Cardinals. He is two seasons removed from hitting .312 while hitting 37 homers and driving in 124 runs in his final season with the Marlins in 2017.
Nonetheless, he was a constant in the Cardinals lineup the past two years and torched the Braves in the NLDS this past season by hitting .429 with two home runs in the five-game series, which saw the Cardinals advance to the NLCS.
After rejecting the qualifying offer of $17.8 million by the Cardinals at the outset of the offseason, Ozuna hit the market looking for a multi-year contract. He was unable to secure one and looks to raise his stock this campaign before entering free agency again next year as a 30-year old.
The Cardinals will receive a compensation pick after Competitive Balance Round B (No. 71) and the Atlanta Braves will forfeit their third-highest selection (No. 99).