One of the biggest sluggers left on the open market is close to finding a home.
The Atlanta Braves announced that they and outfielder Marcell Ozuna have agreed on a four-year, $65 million deal. The contract would include a fifth-year option that can raise the overall value to $80 million.
Ozuna, 30, latched on with the Braves last winter on a one-year “prove it” type deal after beginning his career with the Miami Marlins and making a stop in St. Louis with the Cardinals as well.
In the shortened 2020 season, the Dominican Republic native appeared in all 60 games and owned a triple slash of .338/.431/.636 to go along with 18 home runs, an insane 179 wRC+ and .444 wOBA and 2.5 fWAR.
Ozuna played left field in only 19 games last year, as he spent a majority of the campaign as Atlanta’s designated hitter. While a majority of Ozuna’s production comes with the stick, he has proven to be an average fielder as well.
For his career, he has 12 defensive runs saved (DRS) and a 25.6 ultimate zone range (UZR). However, should Major League Baseball institute a universal DH, one has to imagine that’s how Atlanta will deploy him.
Ozuna is represented by CAA Sports.
