Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
Outfielder Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on one-year, $18 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
He replaces Donaldson in the lineup and holds down an OF spot until CF prospects Christian Pache and Drew Waters are ready.
I wonder if this ends their pursuit or Arenado. There were some rumors of a package of 3B Austin Riley and P Kyle Wright and Ender Inciarte for Arenado.
RE: At least he can’t knock us out of the playoffs again this year. Â
And I think Ozuna is a decent player, but I definitely wouldn’t say a wRC+ 107, and 110 hitter the last two years “replaced” Donaldson in the lineup. Donaldson pretty much carried the Braves last year along with Freeman and Acuna.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
Also trying to figure out who's place he actually took. Â
And I think Ozuna is a decent player, but I definitely wouldn’t say a wRC+ 107, and 110 hitter the last two years “replaced” Donaldson in the lineup. Donaldson pretty much carried the Braves last year along with Freeman and Acuna.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
He’s not as good but he’s a solid bat. You left out his 2017 season and his 143 wRC+ and fWAR season. If he resembles that player the Braves lineup will be among the leagues best.
You left out Ozzie Albies. Acuna Jr., Albies, Swanson, Riley, are all so young and improving. Acuna Jr and Albies are just beginning to get established and are already stars.
The Braves lineup might be worse than last year but their rotation and bullpen are significantly better. No team is baseball has the pitching depth that Atlanta has.
I am very worried about the Phillies though. They have a legit manager now. They overpaid for Wheeler but he was a good pickup for them. I expect Nola to rebound this season and form one of the leagues best rotations.
RE: Also trying to figure out who's place he actually took. Â
I assume Inciarte is still in CF and Acuna in RF. Wasn't Markakis slated for LF? So if anyone's losing playing time, it's him.
Markakis offensively, the last two seasons anyway, wasn't that different than Ozuna.
So if anything you added some defense and got younger at that spot.
Still a good move.
Ozuna is a much better hitter than Markakis. He replaces Duvall/Markakis until Pache or Waters are ready. Pache is the best defensive OF Prospect in baseball and could start opening day but the bat is still a bit raw. He’s probably ready mid season plus the Braves don’t want to start his service clock yet anyway.
And I think Ozuna is a decent player, but I definitely wouldn’t say a wRC+ 107, and 110 hitter the last two years “replaced” Donaldson in the lineup. Donaldson pretty much carried the Braves last year along with Freeman and Acuna.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
He’s not as good but he’s a solid bat. You left out his 2017 season and his 143 wRC+ and fWAR season. If he resembles that player the Braves lineup will be among the leagues best.
You left out Ozzie Albies. Acuna Jr., Albies, Swanson, Riley, are all so young and improving. Acuna Jr and Albies are just beginning to get established and are already stars.
The Braves lineup might be worse than last year but their rotation and bullpen are significantly better. No team is baseball has the pitching depth that Atlanta has.
I am very worried about the Phillies though. They have a legit manager now. They overpaid for Wheeler but he was a good pickup for them. I expect Nola to rebound this season and form one of the leagues best rotations.
Interesting take. I'd say that year was definitely an outlier for Ozuna in 2017. And I wasn't trying to list your entire lineup or note who was good or up and coming or anything like that. Was just naming the guys that "carried you". I would definitely have had Donaldson in that category. Id say the Braves rotation is comparable to last year but their pen has greatly improved. They do have nice depth there though.
Its gonna be a 4 team dog fight this year. We have the most difficult division in the sport for sure.
RE: RE: Also trying to figure out who's place he actually took. Â
I assume Inciarte is still in CF and Acuna in RF. Wasn't Markakis slated for LF? So if anyone's losing playing time, it's him.
Markakis offensively, the last two seasons anyway, wasn't that different than Ozuna.
So if anything you added some defense and got younger at that spot.
Still a good move.
Ozuna is a much better hitter than Markakis. He replaces Duvall/Markakis until Pache or Waters are ready. Pache is the best defensive OF Prospect in baseball and could start opening day but the bat is still a bit raw. He’s probably ready mid season plus the Braves don’t want to start his service clock yet anyway.
Well the average of their last two years, their OPS's are almost identical. Career: Ozuna wRC+ 112, Markakis wRC+ 109. So thats where I was getting that from.
Its gonna be a 4 team dog fight this year. We have the most difficult division in the sport for sure.
I agree with you here. It will be a fun season. The Braves are finally going for it now. Last offseason was frustrating because they did little to help the team with the exception of Donaldson.
I think that was a great pickup. I’ll never understand why we cut him after like a week last year. So stupid.
At the time I thought it was the right move. Nobody expected him to perform like he did in Tampa. The Dodgers just gave him away shortly after the Mets moved on.
I think that was a great pickup. I’ll never understand why we cut him after like a week last year. So stupid.
At the time I thought it was the right move. Nobody expected him to perform like he did in Tampa. The Dodgers just gave him away shortly after the Mets moved on.
As usual the key for d’Arnaud will be health.
It didn’t make sense for them to commit to TDA, pay him a roster bonus when he made the team, trade off Plawecki... only to DFA TDA after 15 atbats. Just an odd decision all around, If they wanted to move on because of his health, they should have made that decision in the offseason prior.
It didn’t make sense for them to commit to TDA, pay him a roster bonus when he made the team, trade off Plawecki... only to DFA TDA after 15 atbats. Just an odd decision all around, If they wanted to move on because of his health, they should have made that decision in the offseason prior.
I completely forgot that they gave him a roster bonus.
Would have liked Donaldson but can’t blame AA for signing a 1 year bat rental as opposed to 4 high-risk year deal with JD.
I wonder if this ends their pursuit or Arenado. There were some rumors of a package of 3B Austin Riley and P Kyle Wright and Ender Inciarte for Arenado.
Would have liked Donaldson but can’t blame AA for signing a 1 year bat rental as opposed to 4 high-risk year deal with JD.
I was disappointed to lose Donaldson but I think we both know the last year or two of that deal are going to be bad unless the NL adds the DH.
The Braves also signed King Felix to a minor league deal.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
Markakis offensively, the last two seasons anyway, wasn't that different than Ozuna.
So if anything you added some defense and got younger at that spot.
Still a good move.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
He’s not as good but he’s a solid bat. You left out his 2017 season and his 143 wRC+ and fWAR season. If he resembles that player the Braves lineup will be among the leagues best.
You left out Ozzie Albies. Acuna Jr., Albies, Swanson, Riley, are all so young and improving. Acuna Jr and Albies are just beginning to get established and are already stars.
The Braves lineup might be worse than last year but their rotation and bullpen are significantly better. No team is baseball has the pitching depth that Atlanta has.
I am very worried about the Phillies though. They have a legit manager now. They overpaid for Wheeler but he was a good pickup for them. I expect Nola to rebound this season and form one of the leagues best rotations.
Markakis offensively, the last two seasons anyway, wasn't that different than Ozuna.
So if anything you added some defense and got younger at that spot.
Still a good move.
Ozuna is a much better hitter than Markakis. He replaces Duvall/Markakis until Pache or Waters are ready. Pache is the best defensive OF Prospect in baseball and could start opening day but the bat is still a bit raw. He’s probably ready mid season plus the Braves don’t want to start his service clock yet anyway.
Quote:
And I think Ozuna is a decent player, but I definitely wouldn’t say a wRC+ 107, and 110 hitter the last two years “replaced” Donaldson in the lineup. Donaldson pretty much carried the Braves last year along with Freeman and Acuna.
I think the Braves lineup took a hit overall. Good news is the Nats lineup did too obviously.
He’s not as good but he’s a solid bat. You left out his 2017 season and his 143 wRC+ and fWAR season. If he resembles that player the Braves lineup will be among the leagues best.
You left out Ozzie Albies. Acuna Jr., Albies, Swanson, Riley, are all so young and improving. Acuna Jr and Albies are just beginning to get established and are already stars.
The Braves lineup might be worse than last year but their rotation and bullpen are significantly better. No team is baseball has the pitching depth that Atlanta has.
I am very worried about the Phillies though. They have a legit manager now. They overpaid for Wheeler but he was a good pickup for them. I expect Nola to rebound this season and form one of the leagues best rotations.
Interesting take. I'd say that year was definitely an outlier for Ozuna in 2017. And I wasn't trying to list your entire lineup or note who was good or up and coming or anything like that. Was just naming the guys that "carried you". I would definitely have had Donaldson in that category. Id say the Braves rotation is comparable to last year but their pen has greatly improved. They do have nice depth there though.
Its gonna be a 4 team dog fight this year. We have the most difficult division in the sport for sure.
Quote:
I assume Inciarte is still in CF and Acuna in RF. Wasn't Markakis slated for LF? So if anyone's losing playing time, it's him.
Markakis offensively, the last two seasons anyway, wasn't that different than Ozuna.
So if anything you added some defense and got younger at that spot.
Still a good move.
Ozuna is a much better hitter than Markakis. He replaces Duvall/Markakis until Pache or Waters are ready. Pache is the best defensive OF Prospect in baseball and could start opening day but the bat is still a bit raw. He’s probably ready mid season plus the Braves don’t want to start his service clock yet anyway.
Well the average of their last two years, their OPS's are almost identical. Career: Ozuna wRC+ 112, Markakis wRC+ 109. So thats where I was getting that from.
Its gonna be a 4 team dog fight this year. We have the most difficult division in the sport for sure.
I agree with you here. It will be a fun season. The Braves are finally going for it now. Last offseason was frustrating because they did little to help the team with the exception of Donaldson.
I think that was a great pickup. I’ll never understand why we cut him after like a week last year. So stupid.
Quote:
We have TDA!
I think that was a great pickup. I’ll never understand why we cut him after like a week last year. So stupid.
At the time I thought it was the right move. Nobody expected him to perform like he did in Tampa. The Dodgers just gave him away shortly after the Mets moved on.
As usual the key for d’Arnaud will be health.
Quote:
In comment 14788921 Jay on the Island said:
Quote:
We have TDA!
I think that was a great pickup. I’ll never understand why we cut him after like a week last year. So stupid.
At the time I thought it was the right move. Nobody expected him to perform like he did in Tampa. The Dodgers just gave him away shortly after the Mets moved on.
As usual the key for d’Arnaud will be health.
It didn’t make sense for them to commit to TDA, pay him a roster bonus when he made the team, trade off Plawecki... only to DFA TDA after 15 atbats. Just an odd decision all around, If they wanted to move on because of his health, they should have made that decision in the offseason prior.
Also hate the idea of the Mets trading for Marte. Frankly, he's not much of an upgrade.
Also hate the idea of the Mets trading for Marte. Frankly, he's not much of an upgrade.
Hate it. I wish they would just sign Russel Martin and leave the roster alone.
I completely forgot that they gave him a roster bonus.