The Atlanta Braves are getting their money’s worth from Marcell Ozuna in the back half of his four-year contract. Marcell Ozuna joined the Braves in 2020 and put his name in the MVP race right behind teammate Freddie Freeman. The Braves gave Ozuna a four-year deal to stay with the Braves and over the past two seasons, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball.

Ozuna has a very team-friendly $16 million club option in 2025 but, here are three things the Braves and Alex Anthopoulos will have to consider before bringing Ozuna back.

Table of Contents

• 1. Soler Sucks at Defense with 2 Years Left on Contract
• 2. Acuna Jr. Could be a DH After Two ACL Surgeries
• 3. Atlanta Braves Might Want to “Reset” Payroll to Get Under Luxury Tax Threshold in 2025
• Conclusion: Will Atlanta Braves Pick Up Marcell Ozuna’s Option in 2025?

1. Soler Sucks at Defense with 2 Years Left on Contract

Jorge Soler is under contract for the next two seasons at $13,000,000 per season. Alex Anthopoulos said the Braves view Soler as an outfielder after they dealt for him. Soler is on pace for -51 defensive runs saved over a full season. You don’t need to look at his Baseball Reference page to know that he is not a Major-League outfielder. In very limited playing time (284 innings), Soler has a tremendously terrible -7 Outs Above Average this season. He has no range. If it isn’t hit directly at him, he’s not catching it. Hell, even if it is hit directly at him, he’s probably not catching it.

2. Acuna Jr. Could be a DH After Two ACL Surgeries

Ronald Acuna Jr. hopes to return for the start of the 2025 season. In 2022, Acuna was eased back into playing time with 27 games at DH. Ronald Acuna Jr.’s defense has suffered since his first ACL surgery. Prior to his 2021 injury, Acuna Jr. had a +12 DRS while rating as an above-average centerfielder. The bar is set a lot higher in centerfield than rightfield. Over the past two seasons, he has posted -9 defensive runs saved and you can see his lack of range in his OAA since then. In fact, we have a whole post from 2023 breaking down Acuna’s defense. The decline in his defense and having two surgically reconstructed knees might make DH the right spot for Acuna in 2025.

3. Atlanta Braves Might Want to Reset Payroll to Get Under Luxury Tax Threshold in 2025

Finally, the Braves might be in position to reset the payroll to avoid exceeding the competitive balance tax threshold for a third-straight year. If the Braves exceed the competitive balance tax in 2025, You can read more about how the competitive balance tax works here. In short, if the Braves exceed the 2025 CBT threshold the initial “tax” or surcharge will increase from 30% to 50%. It will remain 50% for every year they exceed it moving forward unless the reset it by ending a season under the threshold. There has been speculation that the Braves might want to reset that number.

The Braves are currently estimated at about $41.5 million over the luxury tax threshold in 2024. That means they would end up paying over $15 million in penalties (30% surcharge + 12.5% for $20M-$40M over). That number will take a pretty big jump next season when the base surcharge moves from 30% to 50% (if the Braves exceed the threshold for a third-straight year.)

Conclusion: Will Atlanta Braves Pick Up Marcell Ozuna’s Option in 2025?

If the Braves plan on sending Acuna back out to the outfield, they have to find a way to keep Ozuna on the team. He’s been one of the top hitters in all of baseball for two seasons. $16 million is a bargain for the sort of production the Big Bear has provided the Braves with. Ozuna has the 2024 offense to relevancy.

That would leave Acuna, Michael Harris II, and a potential platoon situation with Jarred Kelenic and Jorge Soler in the outfield in 2025. I think it’s more likely that the Braves find a trade partner for Soler or accept his role as a part-time player that will most definitely hurt on defense rather than let Ozuna walk.

Alex Anthopoulos has expressed some disregard or lack of concern over the competitive balance tax in the past. He said they keep track of it so they can pay it, but they aren’t worried about avoiding it.

Ultimately, Anthopoulos is not going to pass up a value like Marcell Ozuna at $16 million.

Atlanta Braves 2025 Off-Season Resources

• 2025 MLB Free Agents – Full List
• 41 Braves Under Team Control in 2025
• 8 Atlanta Braves who will be Free Agents | 4 Club Options in 2025
• Why Braves Won’t Re-Sign Max Fried