The Atlanta Braves face plenty of decisions ahead of the MLB trade deadline with the future of Marcell Ozuna front and center. Ozuna is entering the final months of a four-year, $65 million contract, making the hitter a potential trade candidate.
With the Braves sitting at 45-62, Atlanta could be sellers at the trade deadline, even if publicly the front office has maintained a different stance. Enter the Toronto Blue Jays who could be interested in adding another bat just in time for the team’s stretch run with an eye on the postseason.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter put together a potential trade for every MLB team. The analyst has the Braves dealing Ozuna to the Blue Jays in exchange for highly touted prospect Josh Kasevich, a shortstop on the rise.
Let’s dive into the potential trade for both the Braves and Blue Jays.
Braves Star Marcell Ozuna’s Stats Are Down Significantly From His All-Star Campaign in 2024
Ozuna’s numbers are down from the All-Star campaign the hitter had in 2024. The veteran is hitting .236 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI through 98 appearances in 2025. These numbers are not close to the hitter’s .302 batting average, 39 home runs and 104 RBI in 2024.
“Trading for Ozuna would mean George Springer sees more regular action in the outfield, but it would be a major boon to the Toronto offense,” Reuter detailed in a July 30, 2025, story titled, “1 Move for Every MLB Team Before the 2025 Trade Deadline.” “With Dalton Varsho and Anthony Santander both sidelined, the Blue Jays have been forced to lean more heavily than expected on guys such as Joey Loperfido, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider and Alan Roden in the outfield. Ozuna has a 112 OPS+ with 14 home runs and 44 RBI, and he could be reinvigorated with a change of scenery.
“Kasevich hit .296/.348/.385 with 28 doubles, six home runs, 64 RBI and 13 steals during the 2024 season, but a back injury has limited him to just eight games this year. With a 55-grade hit tool and plus defensive tools, he has starting shortstop upside, albeit with limited impact potential on offense given his lack of power.”
MLB Trade Rumors: The Market Is Heating Up for Braves Slugger Marcell Ozuna
Kasevich does not have the star power of Ozuna, but it would at least give the Braves something in return for the slugger instead of the veteran walking in free agency. The Blue Jays shortstop was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft following a standout college baseball career at Oregon. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the trade market for Ozuna is heating up.
“With little more than 48 hours to go before the deadline, there is movement developing around Marcell Ozuna, who has the power to reject any trade proposal,” Olney remarked in a July 29, post on X. “At least one team has had internal conversations about trying to work out a deal for the slugger.”
Ozuna is prepared for anything as the MLB trade rumors have intensified in Atlanta.
“It’s business, whatever happens, happens,” Ozuna explained, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “But I don’t want that on my mind. I just come in every day to play. If they don’t put me [in the lineup], I still have the same energy.”
Proposed MLB Trade Has Braves Swap $65 Million Star Slugger for Touted Hitter