Bob Nightengale has reported that the Atlanta Braves are expected to listen to Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Sean Murphy trade offers over the winter.
Nightengale previously reported that all Braves with long-term deals are off limits. This report appears to support that position, but elaborates on a few names the Braves might be willing to listen to offers on after the season is over.
Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II have been terrible at the plate for the past two seasons. Since the start of the 2024 season, Albies has slashed .236/.297/.368 with just 19 homers in 197 games. This is from a guy who hit 30+ homers twice in three years (2021 and 2023). Albies has fallen off since his phenomenal 33 HR, 109 RBI season in 2023 at the age of 26. He hit .280 that year and slugged .513.
It’s been all downhill since.
However, we know what Ozzie is capable of accomplishing. In Ozzie Albies’ first seven seasons, 2017-2023, he slashed .273/.325/.479 while hitting 27.5 homers per 162 games and stealing 16 bases per 162. He drove in 95.5 runs per 162 games, had 38.4 doubles per 162 games, and even added 30 triples in that time (6.3/162g)
Over his past five games, Albies has started to look more like the good version with an .865 OPS. He homered in two straight games coming out of the All-Star Break and drove in nine runs.
Albies’ nine RBI in those two games represented 31% of his season-total RBI (29) in the first half.
Why are the Braves Waiting Until the Offseason to Listen to Offers on Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II?
Because the Braves don’t want to sell them at a discount, they have been pretty bad over a large sample size. The Braves need the two to elevate their values to finish the season on high notes. For teams looking for an immediate impact bat to assist in their Postseason pushes, they would expect a discount on two bats that have had OPS+s in the 80s since the start of last year.
Could the Braves Listen to Deadline Offers on Albies if he Continues to Play Well?
Great question! I think the answer is definitely yes. However, Ozzie has to really go on a tear over the next couple of weeks to show the league that he’s still capable of being Ozzie Albies. The first two games of the Yankees’ series were a tremendous way to get things started.
What makes it difficult for the Braves is that their top two tradeable pieces, the top two guys on our list of Braves most likely to be traded, don’t appear to offer any value to anybody at this point.
Who is going to want Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias at this point? Ozuna played through a hip tear all season, and he has been terrible. Raisel Iglesias has a 5.12 ERA and is fresh off a four-run blowup, allowing the Yankees to complete a big comeback against the Braves in the second game of the series.
Why Would the Braves Keep Ozzie Albies?
The Braves still have a solid core of players locked into long-term deals. Ozzie is a good second baseman. He can be streaky, meaning the good often follows the bad. A second baseman with 30-homer potential is tough to come by in this league, and he’s done it twice. Ozzie is still just 28 years old and has two very affordable club options after this season at $7 million each.
Conclusion
If the Braves get the right offer, they will consider the move. The farm system is weak, particularly in terms of position players. We saw the Braves select shortstops with their first three picks in the 2025 MLB Draft. If the right package comes along, Ozzie could be traded this offseason. Despite his struggles the past two seasons, I don’t think AA will sell him at a discount. He’s too affordable with too good a track record for that.
What are your thoughts? Is it time to move on from Ozzie Albies? What sort of deal would you take if you were the General Manager of the Atlanta Braves? Let us know in the comments!
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