The 2026 Atlanta Braves might not be as finished with Marcell Ozuna as many assumed, and that’s not just hot stove smoke.
A Complicated Past That’s Hard to Ignore
After six seasons in a Braves uniform, years marked by towering home runs, slumps, off-field headlines, and, yes, a few dugout side-eyes, Ozuna now stands at the crossroads of free agency. But if Walt Weiss, Atlanta’s new skipper, has anything to say about it, there’s still a chance the door swings open for a surprising seventh act.
“I don’t know that the door has been shut on Ozuna,” Weiss said this week during the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, dropping just enough intrigue to get Braves fans whispering again.
Let’s be clear: Ozuna’s relationship with the Braves has been complicated. When former manager Brian Snitker benched him in June for not hustling, it wasn’t just a one-off decision; it was a visible fracture. As the season wore on, Ozuna’s role shrank. The trade deadline came and went with Ozuna still in uniform, but by August and September, he was more of a bench presence than a lineup fixture. The designated hitter spot, once seemingly tailor-made for his bat, became a revolving door.
Walt Weiss Brings a New Braves Dynamic
But that door may spin again.
With Snitker gone and Weiss now calling the shots, there’s a shift in tone. Weiss is evaluating the DH slot with the kind of tactical flexibility that could leave room for a veteran bat, if the price, attitude, and fit are right. He’s already praised the idea of keeping players fresh by rotating them through the DH spot, especially with two solid options behind the plate in Drake Baldwin and Gold Glove Sean Murphy.
“Drake hits right and left. He’s not a platoon guy,” Weiss noted, clearly envisioning a DH role that doubles as a tool for maximizing offensive potential without sacrificing defense.
A Spot Still Up for Grabs
Still, he left a crack in the door, or maybe more, for a more traditional DH option.
“Unless we just get some big hairy guy that wants to DH for us every day,” he added with a chuckle.
Was that just humor? Maybe. But it’s also hard not to think of Ozuna when you hear “big hairy guy” and “designated hitter” in the same breath.
So, is Ozuna coming back to Atlanta? Nothing is official yet. But Weiss’s comments show that 2026 could be more about versatility, or redemption, than the Braves initially let on. And if Ozuna still has a few thunderous swings left in that bat, don’t be surprised if Atlanta gives him one more shot to unleash them at Truist Park.
