MLB Rumors: ‘No Guarantee’ Potential Red Sox Target Gets Traded

To dream the (possibly) impossible trade deadline dream.

On Tuesday, the Red Sox were named as one of the “best fits” for Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel. But on Wednesday, ESPN’s Buster Olney pumped the brakes on Ozuna trade talks.

“Marcell Ozuna is included in a lot of trade speculation. But if the Braves ever decided to sell, there’s no guarantee he would accept a trade,” Olney posted on X. “He has 10-5 rights — 10 years in the big leagues, five years with the same team — and can veto any trade.”

Ozuna to the Red Sox is a possibility only because chief baseball officer Craig Breslow traded slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants. But bringing in Ozuna, 34, would create a logjam at designated hitter for manager Alex Cora, who should be getting Masataka Yoshida back from the injured list in the near future.

According to Passan and McDaniel, the other best fits for Ozuna are the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Guardians.

“Ozuna is a stone-cold DH, playing two games in the field in 2023 as his last regular-season experience defensively,” the duo wrote. “Ozuna is also in a contract year, but his power numbers are down a notch from his standout .302 average and 39-homer performance last season. His on-base percentage remains among the highest of potential trade candidates. If anyone is moving from Atlanta, he’s the likeliest candidate, with free agency beckoning.”

Ozuna’s reputation precedes himself. He’s a three-time All-Star with a pair of Silver Slugger Awards. Last year, he finished fourth in voting for National League MVP after batting .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs. This season, Ozuna is hitting .247 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 76 games

Passan and McDaniel put the chances of an Ozuna trade at 25%. But that number might go up depending how long former Red Sox ace Chris Sale, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, is on the Braves’ injured list with broken ribs.

The Braves (37-42) are in third place in the NL East, 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta is 6 1/2 games back in the NL wild card standings.