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 Alex Anthopoulos implied as a lot at right now’s end-of-season press convention, saying every has “put himself in a great spot.” All three had robust seasons — Ozuna particularly — so not one of the selections ought to register as a significant shock. Ozuna’s possibility requires a $16MM wage subsequent season, whereas Bummer might be paid $7.25MM and d’Arnaud $8MM.
Ozuna, 34 subsequent month, slugged 39 dwelling runs this season — the second-highest mark of his profession — and turned in a strong .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 throughout the shortened 2020 season. Courting again to 2023, Ozuna has clobbered 79 dwelling 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 area work (-10 Defensive Runs Saved, -6 Outs Above Common). With Soler signed via 2026, Atlanta may attempt to reside together with his protection for a 12 months after which flip Ozuna’s DH slot over to Soler in 2026, however there’ll absolutely be a minimum of some extent of commerce chatter surrounding Soler this winter as effectively.
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 6’3″ 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 fee, whereas decrease than his mammoth 64.9% profession mark, was nonetheless about 17 proportion factors larger than the league common. Add in the truth that his possibility got here with a $1.25MM buyout (successfully making it a web $6MM name) and that his contract additionally comprises a $7.5MM 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’ll 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 fee foundation (103 wRC+), however it’s robust manufacturing relative to catchers all through the league, who are typically about 10% worse than common on the plate. It’s significantly stout manufacturing for a crew’s No. 2 catcher, which is the position d’Arnaud will occupy with Sean Murphy nonetheless within the early levels of a six-year contract.
Accidents to Murphy expanded d’Arnaud’s workload this 12 months, and he dealt with the elevated utilization fairly effectively on either side of the plate. His 19.1% caught-stealing fee was under 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 grime. As d’Arnaud enters his age-36 season, it’s at all times attainable that his defensive expertise may drop off sharply, however assuming higher well being from Murphy, d’Arnaud will most likely even be requested to shoulder a smaller workload than 2024’s 706 innings.
The Braves maintain a fourth membership possibility as effectively — a $7MM 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 fee … but in addition a 13.1% stroll fee. Coupled together with his time in San Francisco, he completed the season with a 5.09 ERA, 25.1% strikeout fee and 11.1% stroll fee in 53 innings.
Jackson’s possibility comes with a $2MM buyout, however even at a web $5MM value the Braves appear more likely 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 $39.75MM in 2025 wage. The Braves can even see lefty Dylan Lee attain arbitration for the primary time.
