ORLANDO, Fla. — For the entire discuss this offseason about what modifications could be coming to the Atlanta Braves lineup in 2026, it is attainable that one title might return in what many may contemplate to be a shocking transfer.
Marcell Ozuna, who has spent the final six seasons as a member of the Braves, is at present a free agent. Nonetheless, incoming supervisor Walt Weiss advised reporters at this week’s MLB Winter Conferences that it is attainable Ozuna might return for a seventh marketing campaign in Atlanta.
Walt Weiss confirms stance on Marcell Ozuna
“I do not know that the door has been shut on Ozuna,” Weiss mentioned when discussing what may occur with the Braves on the designated hitter spot in 2026.
With former supervisor Brian Snitker not on the bench, a return to Atlanta for Ozuna is not as far-fetched as as soon as thought. The 2 clashed final season, with Snitker benching Ozuna in June for a perceived lack of hustle on the bases. Ozuna’s taking part in time additionally went down significantly within the second half of the season because the Braves held onto him on the commerce deadline, then rotated different gamers by means of the DH spot within the lineup over Ozuna in August and September.
That very same form of rotation may very well be in play for Weiss as effectively in 2026 as he plans out his lineup, particularly with Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy out there at catcher.
“All issues being equal, I do like the liberty of getting guys off their legs. It is like a half a day without work. And utilizing that place for Drake Baldwin as a result of I need to get Drake’s bat in there as a lot as we are able to,” Weiss mentioned. “Drake hits proper and left. He is not a platoon man.
“So on the identical time we have got a Gold Glove-caliber defender in Murphy behind the plate. So there’s some good freedom there with that DH spot open.”
So, would Weiss desire a rotation at DH or one participant to take many of the at-bats? It is nonetheless early within the offseason to know for positive which manner the Braves will go, and there may very well be a figuring out issue that would sway Weiss.
“I do just like the considered it,” Weiss mentioned of the DH rotation. “Until we simply get some huge furry man that desires to DH for us day by day.”
All quotations obtained firsthand until in any other case famous.
