The Braves are planning to train their 2025 membership choices on designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, left-hander Aaron Bummer and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, studies Mark Bowman of MLB.com. President of baseball operations implied as a lot at Friday’s end-of-season information convention, saying every has “put himself in a great place.” All three had sturdy seasons — Ozuna particularly — so not one of the selections ought to register as a serious shock. Ozuna’s possibility requires a $16M wage subsequent season, whereas Bummer will likely be paid $7.25M and d’Arnaud $8M.
Ozuna, 34 subsequent month, slugged 39 residence runs this season — the second-highest mark of his profession — and turned in a roust .302/.378/.546 slash on the season. That manufacturing clocked in at a weighty 54% higher than league-average, by measure of wRC+ (154). That’s the second-best mark of Ozuna’s profession and his greatest mark in a full, 162-game marketing campaign; his career-high 178 mark got here in the course of the shortened 2020 season. Relationship again to 2023, Ozuna has clobbered 79 residence runs for the Braves and performed in all however 18 of their video games.
Atlanta’s deadline acquisition of Jorge Soler makes the 2025 roster a bit clunky with Ozuna additionally within the fold. Each are nominal nook outfielders who’re greatest deployed primarily as a chosen hitter. The Braves plugged Soler into their injury-plagued outfield combine after buying him this summer season, in hopes of bolstering a lineup that was lacking Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II on the time.
Soler did simply that, hitting .243/.356/.493 and clubbing 9 homers in 193 plate appearances in his return to Atlanta, however he additionally posted brutal defensive marks in a 3rd of a season of left subject work (-10 Defensive Runs Saved, -6 Outs Above Common). With Soler signed by 2025, Atlanta may attempt to dwell with the protection for a 12 months after which flip DH over Soler in 2026, however there’ll absolutely be no less than some extent of commerce chatter surrounding him this winter as properly.
As for the opposite two possibility calls, each appeared apparent. Bummer was acquired from the White Sox final offseason and had a pleasant first 12 months in his new environs, rebounding from a down 12 months to offer 55 1/3 innings of three.58 ERA ball with even higher underlying metrics. The 6-foot-3 southpaw punched out 28.3% of his opponents and issued walks at solely a 7.4% clip — the second-lowest mark of his profession. His 59.7% ground-ball price, whereas decrease than his mammoth 64.9% profession mark, was nonetheless about 17 proportion factors greater than the league common. Add in the truth that his possibility got here with a $1.25M buyout (successfully making it a web $6M name) and that his contract additionally comprises a $7.5M membership possibility for 2026 and there was by no means a lot doubt he’d be again in ’25.
Turning to the 35-year-old d’Arnaud (36 in February), he will likely be again for a sixth season at Truist Park after slashing .238/.302/.436 with 15 homers in 341 plate appearances. That’s solely a bit higher than league-average on a price foundation (103 wRC+), nevertheless it’s sturdy manufacturing relative to catchers all through the league, who are usually about 10% worse than common on the plate. It’s notably stout manufacturing for a staff’s No. 2 catcher, which is the position d’Arnaud will occupy with Sean Murphy nonetheless within the early phases of a six-year contract.
Accidents to Murphy expanded d’Arnaud’s workload this 12 months and he dealt with the elevated utilization moderately properly on each side of the plate. His 19.1% caught-stealing price was beneath par, however not by a lot, and his framing work was roughly common. Statcast credited him as barely higher than common with regards to blocking balls within the filth. As d’Arnaud enters his age-36 season, it’s at all times doable that his defensive abilities may drop off sharply, however assuming higher well being from Murphy, d’Arnaud will in all probability even be requested to shoulder a smaller workload than 2024’s 706 innings.
The Braves maintain a fourth membership possibility as properly — a $7M possibility on right-hander Luke Jackson. Atlanta reacquired the longtime Courageous alongside Soler in that deadline swap with the Giants. He pitched 18 innings with a 4.50 ERA and large 31% strikeout price … but additionally a 13.1% stroll price. Coupled together with his time in San Francisco, he completed the season with a 5.09 ERA, 25.1% strikeout price and 11.1% stroll price in 53 innings.
Jackson’s possibility comes with a $2M buyout, however even at a web $5M value the Braves appear prone to transfer on. Atlanta has a deep (and costly) bullpen that includes Raisel Iglesias, Joe Jimenez, Pierce Johnson and the aforementioned Bummer. That quartet alone will mix for $39.75M in 2025 wage. The Braves will even see lefty Dylan Lee attain arbitration for the primary time.
