The Atlanta Braves finally caught a break Monday night, snapping a brutal seven-game losing streak with a 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. But let’s not confuse a single win with a full-blown turnaround.
At 28-37 and 13.5 games behind in the NL East, the Braves are staring at a very real possibility they haven’t faced in a while—being sellers at the trade deadline.
Marcell Ozuna? Obvious. Ozzie Albies? Maybe Not So Crazy.
Now, Marcell Ozuna being on the trade block isn’t a shocker. He’s on an expiring contract, he’s hitting well, and his value is peaking just in time for contending teams to come sniffing.
But the real headline? MLB.com’s Mark Bowman is throwing Ozzie Albies into the trade rumor blender. That’s right—three-time All-Star, Silver Slugger winner, and fan favorite Ozzie Albies.
Bowman’s argument makes a kind of cold, calculating sense. Albies hasn’t been lighting it up this season—his .658 OPS is a long fall from last year’s .849—but he has quietly turned a corner. He’s reached base in 24 straight games and just collected his 1,000th career hit.
And with two ultra-affordable $7 million club options through 2027, he’s either a bargain long-term asset for Atlanta or a low-risk, high-upside flyer for another club.
Braves Window Is Closing Fast
Here’s the thing, the Braves don’t have forever to make this call. The trade deadline is July 31, and that ticking clock gets louder with every loss. If Atlanta can claw its way back into the playoff picture, keeping Albies makes sense—he’s still only 28 and could easily be part of a 2026 rebound squad. But if they keep sliding, holding onto assets just because of sentiment doesn’t fly in a front office war room.
Would trading Albies be an emotional gut punch for the fan base? Absolutely. The guy has been part of the franchise fabric for years. But business is business, and if a contender comes calling with a top-tier prospect and a vision for Albies’ resurgence, it would be malpractice not to at least listen.
Retool, Reload, or Rebuild?
The Braves don’t need a full teardown—but they do need a hard reset. Retooling around young core players and using pieces like Ozuna or even Albies as leverage could fast-track a return to relevance in 2026. That’s the calculus here: short-term pain for long-term gain.
Atlanta’s next seven weeks are critical. A hot streak keeps the gang together. A continued slump? All bets are off. So, if you’re attached to the names on the jerseys, brace yourself. This summer might bring some very uncomfortable but necessary decisions.
