The Atlanta Braves have remained active this offseason as they look for ways to strengthen and fine-tune their roster heading into the next campaign. While there is no doubt that the front office is committed to building a competitive team, numerous questions still hang over the roster, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos and his staff have already taken an important step by bringing closer Raisel Iglesias back into the fold, which helps bring stability to the back end of the bullpen. With the ninth inning now secured, the Braves can turn their focus toward addressing other areas of uncertainty on the field.
One of the more notable moves made by Atlanta was the decision to trade Nick Allen in exchange for Mauricio Dubón. This swap appears to give the Braves a potential upgrade in offensive production at the shortstop position, without dramatically sacrificing defensive capabilities. Dubón is known for his versatility and solid glove, which gives the team flexibility all over the infield and outfield.
However, his true role with the club remains to be seen. If the Braves manage to acquire an even stronger option to man the middle infield, Dubón could shift into a super-utility position, providing depth and value across multiple spots. On the other hand, if Dubón ends up being the regular everyday shortstop, it becomes even more important for Atlanta to find another impact bat elsewhere in the lineup to compensate for any offensive uncertainty.
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Another major question that continues to loom over the team is the future of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. At this point, there is no clear indication that he will be returning to the Braves for the upcoming season. Anthopoulos did recently clarify that the organization has not ruled out the possibility of bringing Ozuna back, stating that the door remains open. Still, that does not guarantee a reunion, as the front office is keeping its options open and evaluating other opportunities that may present themselves in the coming weeks or months.
The Braves are willing to explore a variety of paths when it comes to the designated hitter position. According to Anthopoulos, the team is not set on a single plan. If the right pure designated hitter becomes available and makes sense for the club, they will strongly consider that option. At the same time, they are not locking themselves into any premature decisions. This flexible approach allows Atlanta to patiently survey the market and choose the best possible fit for their roster, rather than rushing into a move out of desperation.
While Ozuna had a disappointing 2025 season, much like several of his teammates, it would be unwise to completely dismiss his ability to bounce back. He has a track record of being a productive hitter, and that history still carries weight in the decision-making process. In addition to his on-field potential, Ozuna is also respected for his presence in the clubhouse and his leadership qualities, which are often just as valuable as statistical production. These factors could play a role in keeping him under consideration as Atlanta plans its next steps.
Still, the uncertainty surrounding Ozuna creates an obvious follow-up question: if he is not brought back, who will take his place in the Braves’ lineup? Replacing a player who has previously provided significant power and run production is no small task. The front office must consider whether they want a similar type of hitter or if they prefer to shift in a different offensive direction entirely. They could pursue a proven veteran bat, seek a trade target with upside, or even give a younger player the opportunity to break through and claim a larger role on the roster.
Ultimately, the Braves find themselves at an important crossroads. They have already handled some critical needs, but there is still plenty of work left to do. Their decisions regarding the middle infield and designated hitter spots will go a long way in shaping what this team looks like next season. As Atlanta continues to weigh its options, the path they choose could determine whether they merely remain competitive or fully re-establish themselves as a top contender.
Braves replacing Marcell Ozuna with Ryan O’Hearn would be a step in the wrong direction
It is not an easy question to answer, because the Braves have a number of different directions they could take. While Kyle Schwarber is one of the more notable names available, the chances of him actually ending up in Atlanta appear fairly low at this point.
Additionally, it would be unrealistic for the organization to rely on a combination of Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin to fill the designated hitter role. Murphy is still recovering from hip surgery, and there is no clear timeline for when he will be back to full strength or ready to take on consistent at-bats as a DH.
Because of that uncertainty, Atlanta is expected to look elsewhere for a more dependable option. One name that has recently come up as a logical fit is Ryan O’Hearn. Braves insider Mark Bowman has identified him as a potentially sensible target for the club this offseason. O’Hearn spent the 2025 season split between the Baltimore Orioles and the San Diego Padres, and it turned into one of the strongest offensive campaigns of his career. Over the course of the year, he posted a solid slash line of .281/.366/.437, while also contributing 17 home runs, 21 doubles, 63 runs batted in, and an impressive 127 weighted runs created plus.
Although Marcell Ozuna is known for having more raw power at the plate, O’Hearn comes with some added advantages. For one, he is a bit younger, and he also provides some positional flexibility thanks to his ability to handle outfield duties when needed.
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His defensive range is considered dependable, and that kind of versatility has always appealed to the Braves’ front office. They value players who can move around the diamond and adapt to different situations, which is an important factor when building a well-balanced roster over the grind of a full season.
Having a true, full-time designated hitter again would also impact how manager Brian Snitker constructs his lineups. If the Braves were to commit to another everyday DH, it would make it far more difficult to find consistent opportunities for both Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in the same lineup. Carrying two catchers who both need regular at-bats is already a challenge, and adding another bat locked into the DH role only complicates that situation further. When you step back and look at it from a bigger-picture perspective, that kind of logjam is far from ideal.
That said, O’Hearn is not without his flaws. While he delivered strong overall production in 2025, some of his underlying metrics were closer to league average than elite. In areas such as barrel rate, hard-hit percentage, squared-up contact, chase rate, whiff rate, and strikeout rate, he posted numbers that were more or less in line with the rest of the league. That suggests there is still room for improvement, especially for a player who would be expected to contribute a consistent bat in the middle of the order.
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On the positive side, several of O’Hearn’s advanced statistics offer reasons for optimism. His expected batting average (xBA) came in at a strong .272, which indicates that the quality of his contact was better than what a basic glance might reveal.
He also excelled in launch angle sweet spot rate, registering an excellent 38.2 percent, meaning he was hitting the ball at productive angles on a regular basis. In addition, his walk rate sat at a healthy 10.7 percent, highlighting his ability to remain patient at the plate and avoid expanding the strike zone unnecessarily.
It is also worth noting that O’Hearn is only one season removed from posting much stronger marks in some of the areas where he slipped in 2025. That makes it far more reasonable to believe that his dips in performance could be corrected. With Atlanta’s track record of maximizing hitters and making mechanical or approach-based adjustments, it is easy to imagine the Braves’ coaching staff helping him rediscover the version of himself that excelled in those metrics in previous seasons.
Ultimately, the decision may come down to a comparison between two paths: bringing in someone like Ryan O’Hearn, who offers a mix of production, flexibility, and potential upside, or simply opting to bring back Ozuna on a short, one-year deal. Each option comes with pros and cons, and it will be intriguing to see which direction Atlanta believes best fits their competitive window as they prepare for another postseason run.
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