The 2025 MLB trade deadline came and went, and the Atlanta Braves mostly stood still — a decision that has drawn increasing backlash from national pundits and raised fresh questions about the direction of the franchise.
Despite falling completely out of the National League playoff race before August, the Braves held onto key veterans on expiring contracts, most notably Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias. Aside from a quiet move that sent reliever Rafael Montero out the door, Atlanta’s deadline was virtually silent — and critics have noticed.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer didn’t mince words in his post-deadline grades, using the term “stagnant” to sum up the Braves’ trade activity — or lack thereof.
“The Braves have long since faded from the National League playoff race, so they should have at least dealt pending free agents like Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias. And yet, they just… didn’t,” Rymer wrote.
Anthopoulos Responds: “I Can’t Force a Trade”
GM Alex Anthopoulos, long regarded as one of the savviest executives in the game, defended the front office’s decisions — or non-decisions — in the days following the deadline. Speaking to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, he pushed back on the narrative that the Braves simply missed the boat.
“I can’t force a trade,” Anthopoulos said. “So I understand that people may think we should trade so and so, and we should get this guy back, or that guy back. Unfortunately, out of respect to all parties, I can’t divulge [specifics].”
He also addressed Ozuna’s 10-and-5 rights, which gave the slugger the ability to veto any trade — though Anthopoulos claimed that wasn’t the sticking point.
“We were not interested in just dumping players and trying to shed some money on a contract,” Anthopoulos said, implying that no competitive offers were on the table.
From the outside, the optics weren’t great. Ozuna, Iglesias, and others had real market value. Multiple playoff-bound teams were searching for late-inning bullpen help and right-handed power. Iglesias has been solid this season, and Ozuna — despite defensive limitations — remains one of the Braves’ few consistent run producers.
But both are unlikely to return in 2026. So when Atlanta chose not to trade them, many saw it as a missed opportunity to replenish a thin farm system or pivot toward a more clearly defined reset.
Unanswered Questions About the Braves’ Future
Criticism isn’t just tied to the deadline. Rymer and others are questioning the trajectory of the Braves’ core, with injuries and underperformance clouding what was once the most feared young lineup in baseball.
Injuries have hampered Ronald Acuña Jr.. Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Austin Riley have regressed. Add in the total collapse of Atlanta’s rotation due to injuries, and the situation becomes even murkier.
With just one minor deal, a shaky outlook, and expiring contracts left untouched, the Braves now face the worst of both worlds: out of contention, yet with no major deadline return to show for it.
In the eyes of fans and pundits alike, the club’s 2025 trade deadline will be remembered less for what they did — and more for what they didn’t do.
