Red Sox Acquiring $77 Million Braves Slugger Would Bring 'Thump' to Lineup
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The Boston Red Sox are doing everything they can to stay afloat in the American League playoff race.
As of Monday, the Red Sox are a half-game back in the AL Wild Card race. They are in a strong position to be a buyer at the trade deadline if they continue at this pace.
Jake Roy of NESN believes the team could pursue two-time Silver Slugger Marcell Ozuna from the Atlanta Braves to bolster the lineup and push for the playoffs.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 21: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot park on June 21, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 21: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot park on June 21, 2025 in Miami, Florida."Marcell Ozuna is in the final year of his contract and could be one of the top names on the market in late July," wrote Roy. "The righty is a power hitter, and the Red Sox could use some thump in their lineup to fill the void left by Rafael Devers."
Ozuna entered Monday hitting .253 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI as well as an OPS+ of 122. However, he's already just about 20 walks away from tying his season total from last year. This indicates teams are pitching to him more conservatively this season to avoid his bat doing major damage.
The Braves recently lost their ace Chris Sale to injury which makes their mountain to get into the playoffs even higher. While Ozuna's bat would be a major bonus, Roy points out one roster flaw that would make things difficult.
"Ozuna hasn't played the outfield regularly since 2022 and would likely assume the role of full-time designated hitter," wrote Roy. His splits are minimal, so a platoon wouldn't be necessary. The return of Masataka Yoshida could complicate things, as rostering two players who can't play the field is difficult to accommodate."
The Red Sox lineup is currently heavy with left-handed bats, so Boston could look to move on from Yoshida in order to accommodate Ozuna. If Cora wants to get really creative and keep them both, he could look into teaching one of them how to play first base, a position that requires a lot less work defensively than left field.
More MLB: Astros Pushing for Left-Handed Bats; Could $100 Million Slugger be Good Fit?
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