Ozuna Flexes 10-5 Rights, Blocks Braves Trade Attempts
Marcell Ozuna is heating up — and so is the story surrounding his future with the Atlanta Braves.
Since the MLB Trade Deadline, the veteran slugger has been on a tear, batting .333 with a 1.226 OPS, three home runs, and six RBIs over just eight games. It’s the kind of production fans might have wished for a month earlier, when the Braves could have explored moving him. As it turns out, they reportedly did — and ran into a roadblock.
Braves insider Ryan Cothran recently revealed on social media that Atlanta attempted to trade Ozuna to three different teams, only for the deals to be vetoed by the player himself. That’s no small flex — Ozuna has earned “10-5 rights” (10 years in the majors, five with the same team), which allow him to block any trade.
At first glance, the report seems at odds with comments from general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who said the club never approached Ozuna directly about a deal. But the two statements can coexist: trade discussions could have taken place between Anthopoulos and Ozuna’s agent without the player being actively involved in the day-to-day talks.
The Athletic’s David O’Brien reported that Ozuna was leaving any trade-related decisions to his agent and Anthopoulos. That could mean the three vetoed trades were part of preliminary discussions hinted at before the deadline.
Whether it was a matter of fit, location, or personal preference, Ozuna had every right to exercise his veto power. And while that might frustrate some fans — especially if they saw an opportunity for a roster shakeup — the rights exist for a reason, and the decision ultimately belongs to the player.
In the end, the Braves only dealt Rafael Montero at the deadline, opting against salary dumps or forced moves. For now, Ozuna remains in Atlanta, looking to build on his recent surge and increase his value ahead of free agency.
If his bat stays this hot, the Braves may be just fine with the trades that never were.
From category: Atlanta Braves shirts
⏩ You may also love: Philadelphia Phillies Shirts
